The rescued beagles from a Wisconsin research breeding facility immediately showed signs of relief upon their removal, displaying affectionate behavior toward their rescuers within the first hour of freedom.
“They started within an hour or so coming up to us, wanting attention. Some crawled in people’s laps. Every single one of them are super sweet,” said Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, on Sunday. “I think they are loving the attention. I just know they know they’re safe.”
Two animal welfare organizations – Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy – reached a private agreement to buy all 1,500 dogs from Ridglan Farms for an undisclosed amount. The Wisconsin facility became the center of controversy last month when law enforcement deployed tear gas and pepper spray against activists attempting to remove beagles from the property. Earlier in March, protesters had broken into the facility and removed 30 dogs, leading to 63 people being referred for potential criminal charges by the sheriff’s department.
The purchase negotiations had been underway for months prior to the April confrontation, and Simmons emphasized that her organization had no involvement with the protest activities. Big Dog Ranch Rescue will handle placement of 1,000 dogs through partner organizations nationwide, while the Center for a Humane Economy will manage the remaining animals.
More than 700 adoption applications have already been submitted to Simmons’ organization, though the placement process will require time for proper screening of potential owners, transportation to various shelters, and ensuring the dogs are house-trained before final placement.
The initial group of 300 beagles was removed from Ridglan on Friday, with additional removals planned throughout the coming week. The rescue groups have established a temporary facility with outdoor play areas in Wisconsin, where the animals receive vaccinations, microchipping, spaying or neutering, and preparation for relocation. Big Dog Ranch Rescue has begun transferring some dogs to their facility in western Palm Beach County, Florida.
“The younger dogs will adjust quicker, and the older dogs will take time,” Simmons explained. “A lot of them are more willing to accept love and want to be with people.”
Ridglan Farms has not responded to requests for comment regarding the situation.
According to Simmons, beagles represent the most frequently used canine breed in laboratory testing due to their compact size and gentle nature.
“A Belgian Malinois is not going to put up with being tested on, being confined in a kennel their whole life,” Simmons said, referencing the athletic shepherd dogs used by police and military. “Beagles are just so trusting and docile and calm and forgiving, so they are the most chosen dogs for animal testing. And so we’re going to take one of the sweetest, kindest, most trusting breeds and abuse them? This is wrong. This needs to stop.”
In October, Ridglan Farms agreed to surrender its state breeding license effective July 1 as part of an arrangement to avoid prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges. While the company has denied animal abuse allegations, a special prosecutor concluded that Ridglan Farms conducted eye procedures that violated state veterinary regulations.
Approximately 1,000 activists from throughout the nation gathered at Ridglan Farms in the rural community of Blue Mounds, located about 25 miles southwest of Madison, on April 18 in an effort to remove the beagles. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray. The Dane County Sheriff’s Department reported 29 arrests, with five individuals facing felony burglary charges.
The activists have initiated a federal lawsuit in Wisconsin claiming police employed excessive force. Ridglan has characterized those who attempted to enter the facility as a “violent mob” who conducted “an assault on a federally licensed research facility.”
