For more than six decades, Ridglan Farms operated in Wisconsin as one of the leading dog-breeding facilities for biomedical research. Beagles were the breed of choice for a specific reason: their small size and extraordinarily docile temperament made them manageable in laboratory settings. That same docility—the trait that enabled years of experimentation—was the first thing they showed when they set foot on free ground.
After months of protests that led to clashes with police, tear gas, and 29 arrests, a confidential agreement between Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the Center for a Humane Economy, and Ridglan Farms sealed the fate of approximately 1,500 animals. The company, accused of carrying out eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards, agreed to surrender its state license before July 1, 2026 to avoid criminal charges. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
The first 300 dogs left around May 2, 2026. Before being sent to shelters across the country, each animal is being vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. The adoption process opened, and within minutes more than 700 families had already applied. It is, according to the organizations involved, the largest laboratory animal rescue in United States history.
