1,500 beagles find safety after protests at Wisconsin dog breeding site
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy purchased 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin breeding and research facility subject to recent protests and police action.
- The first 300 beagles were removed last Friday, with plans to relocate more over the coming week; the dogs are being vaccinated, microchipped, and prepared for adoption or transfer to shelters nationwide.
- Ridglan Farms agreed to relinquish its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid felony animal mistreatment charges related to improper eye procedures on the dogs, though the company denies mistreatment.
- Protests at Ridglan Farms escalated in April when about 1,000 activists attempted to rescue the beagles, resulting in police using tear gas and pepper spray, 29 arrests, and ongoing legal disputes over police conduct and facility security.
- Beagles are commonly used in animal testing due to their docile nature, and advocates emphasize the ethical concerns surrounding their treatment in research environments.
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