BLUE MOUNDS, Wisconsin — Animal welfare groups removed 300 beagles on Friday from Ridglan Farms after reaching an agreement to purchase about 1,500 dogs from the breeding and research facility, with the transfer carried out in phases to relocate the animals for care and adoption.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue and Center for a Humane Economy negotiated the purchase for an undisclosed amount. The groups began planning the transfer months before protests at the facility in April, according to officials involved in the rescue.
Rescue workers transported the first group of dogs to a staging area in Wisconsin, where staff vaccinated, microchipped, and sterilized the animals before preparing them for relocation to shelters across the United States. Organizers said they will move additional groups over the next week.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue said it received more than 700 adoption applications. The group said it will screen applicants and prepare the dogs for placement, noting that some animals may require time to adjust to home environments.
Authorities and activists clashed at the facility in recent weeks. In March, protesters entered the property and removed 30 dogs. On April 18, about 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the site, and law enforcement officers used tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. The Dane County Sheriff’s Department referred 63 people to prosecutors for possible charges, including burglary.
Activists filed a federal lawsuit alleging that police used excessive force during the April confrontation. Facility representatives described the incident as an attack by a group attempting to enter a licensed research site.
State officials previously reached an agreement with Ridglan Farms to relinquish its breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution over animal mistreatment allegations. A special prosecutor found that certain procedures at the facility violated state veterinary standards. The company denied mistreatment.
Rescue officials said they will continue transferring the remaining dogs until all animals leave the facility and enter the adoption system.