BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. — Law enforcement officers used rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse nearly 1,000 animal rights demonstrators who attempted to force their way into a Wisconsin beagle breeding operation on Saturday, resulting in multiple arrests including the protest leader.
The confrontation at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds marked the second time in two months that activists have targeted the facility, located roughly 25 miles southwest of Madison, in an effort to remove dogs from the premises.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett described the scene in a video statement, saying 300 to 400 demonstrators were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. Barrett noted that protesters had abandoned designated peaceful demonstration zones and were blocking roadways, preventing emergency responders from accessing the area.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
Authorities reported arresting a “significant” number of individuals from the crowd of approximately 1,000 protesters, though exact figures were not available Saturday afternoon as processing continued.
Demonstrators attempted to breach multiple security measures including a trench filled with manure, hay bales, and barbed wire fencing. While some activists managed to penetrate the perimeter, none succeeded in accessing the building housing an estimated 2,000 beagles, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
“I just feel defeated,” activist Julie Vrzeski told the newspaper approximately three hours after the operation began with no dogs successfully removed. The protesters later relocated to demonstrate outside the Madison jail.
The Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had announced plans to take the animals on Sunday but moved their operation up by one day. Group leader Wayne Hsiung’s social media account posted an image of his arrest at the scene.
Sheriff’s officials reported arresting an individual who “recklessly” drove a pickup truck through the facility’s front gate, “preventing a potentially deadly outcome.”
In March, demonstrators broke into the same facility and removed 30 dogs, leading to the arrest of 27 people on trespassing and related charges.
While Ridglan has maintained it does not mistreat animals, the company agreed in October to surrender its state breeding license by July 1 as part of an agreement to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment allegations.
According to the company’s website, Ridglan states that “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
