Breeding & Laboratory Research in Wisconsin

UPDATE

June 3, 2026

135 more beagles being released this week!

Total so far = 1,635 Beagles on their way/arrived in new homes

May 1, 2026

1,500 Beagles are being released from Ridglan to new adoptive homes!

Please visit Facebook for all the daily updates.  There are many organizations both in Wisconsin and across the country that are making this happen and it is a huge undertaking.  Donations, vet techs, volunteers are all needed.  Dane4dogs, Beagles Freedom Project, Animal Wellness Action/Center for a Humane Economy are a few but there are many more.  Contact your local animal shelter to inquire how they're involved and encourage their help.  Vet techs and Volunteers are needed in Madison through at least the 15th of May.

March 15, 2026

Concerned citizens rescued 30 Beagles from Ridglan Farms' breeding and experimentation facility.  Sheriff intercepted rescue of 8 beagles and returned them to Ridglan.  The rest (22)are in safe places, inspected by veterinarians and cared for by fosters at this time.  Upon initial veterinarian assessments the following was found:

1) Interdigital dermatitis (most of the dogs) 

2) Bilateral conjunctivitis with significant mucoid production- at least 2 dogs 

3) Ottis Extema- = several dogs in 1 or more ears 

4) Mid bruising of internal ear pinnae- several dogs 

5) Mild dehydration 

Things are changing daily so please go to https://www.facebook.com/Dane4Dogs to see evolving situation and daily instructions on ways you can help from home.

October 28, 2025

Exciting news!

"Today, a special prosecutor investigating embattled beagle experimentation breeder Ridglan Farms for animal cruelty announced that the puppy mill will close the portion of its facility that breeds beagles to sell them for research. The announcement comes in response to the special prosecutor seeking to charge Ridglan with felony animal cruelty, following years of documented mutilations and other abuse at the facility."  (see Dane4dogs FB)

September 4, 2025

AB436/SB414: Introduced 9/19/25 and 9/4/25, these bills require animal testing facilities and persons that breed cats or dogs for sale or transfer to an animal testing facility to offer to a releasing agency for eventual adoption certain dogs and cats that do not pose a risk to public health. A person who violates the provisions of the bills shall be subject to a forfeiture not to exceed $5,000.

LOHV is in support of this bill excluding the proposed amendment on 11/04/25.

February 5, 2025

In January 2025 Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda L. Lanford granted the petition of petitioners, Wayne Hsuing, Dane4Dogs, and Alliance for Animals. The Court found that probable cause exists that Ridglan Farms, Inc. has committed multiple criminal violations of Chapter 951 of the Wisconsin Statutes, Crimes Against Animals. The Court also found that the Dane County District Attorney has refused to issue a complaint related to these allegations. The Court ordered the appointment of a special prosecutor as soon as is practicable. On February 5, 2025 the Court appointed LaCrosse County District Attorney, Tim Gruenke, as the special prosecutor.

For future updates and beagle rescue info in general, link to FB here.

Wayne Hsiung, who is on the legal team representing the beagles at Ridglan writes a blog "The Simple Heart" which is an excellent resource for up to date animal issues, research and activism.  Link here to check it out and subscribe. 

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March 8, 2024: All Charges Dismissed
They don't want the public to know the details of beagle research which would have come out at trial.

Weekend events continue as planned!

These will be fun events to show your support for ending beagle research and animal abuse.

Register at https://www.dogdefendersmarch.com/

Additional info at https://www.facebook.com/Dane4Dogs

March 18, 2024, 9 am

Three activists - Eva Hamer, Paul Darwin Picklesimer and Wayne Hsiung of Direct Action Everywhere are facing felony charges for rescuing Julie, Anna and Lucy who were exploited for animal experimentation at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin 2018. The case will have significant implications on the #RightToRescue, and activists will seek some measure of justice for the untold numbers of animals subjected to cruelty whose cries have been ignored. The trial is scheduled to start March 18th, 9am at the Dane County Courthouse (215 S Hamilton St, Madison, WI 53703) and is estimated to be 1 week long.  According to Direct Action Everywhere, you are welcome to attend just one day or the entire trial, but if you can only attend one day they highly encourage you to attend on the first day, March 18th. Go to Wisconsin's Dane4Dogs Ridglan Beagle Rescue Trial Facebook page for the trial information and a link to register for attending one or more days of the trial.  In their experience, court dates often get changed, even within a week of trial. At this time, they do not recommend you book any travel or housing arrangements that are not refundable. 

Dane4Dogs and other coalition members will be hosting corresponding weekend activities March 23-25th: a march, public outreach, meeting a rescued research beagle, and speaking with state legislators immediately following the trial or possibly during the trial if it goes two weeks.  To register for all weekend activities please go to Dog Defenders March and click on "Register" in the top righthand corner.

LOHV is in strong support of this action which will bring attention to the miserable conditions of captive beagles bred in this massive factory for the purpose of research.  Direct Action Everywhere has experienced success around the country in bringing attention to the misery of all captive animals. 

Wisconsin is one of the epicenters of animal research in the United States AND also harbors breeding facilities specifically for the purpose of selling these animals to research laboratories.

Wisconsin has the dubious distinction of being #1 in the United States for research on both dogs and cats; #2 for rabbits.

Thousands of these animals in breeding facilities in our state live a miserable caged existence, bred for unnecessary experiments that do not transfer to human use. For example, there is a very large breeding facility outside of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

"State open-records laws and the U.S. Freedom of Information Act can be used to obtain documents and information from state institutions, government agencies, and other federally funded facilities, but private companies, contract labs, and animal breeders are exempt."

www.Dane4Dogs.org is an excellent resource along with their Facebook page which they keep updated regularly.

You can also request info from WI DATCP if you want inspection and other information.  Don't hesitate to contact your local officials to inquire if any breeding facilities are in your area or contact your state representatives as well.  It's important to remember that the public research facilities are using our public tax dollars to fund cruel, invasive, painful and unnecessary experiments.