Rescue groups secure release of 1,500 beagles from Wisconsin breeding farm

Two animal rescue organizations have secured the release of 1,500 beagles from a Wisconsin dog-breeding facility that supplied animals for research, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, following months of protests and a law enforcement standoff at the site.

The deal ends operations at Ridglan Farms, which agreed to surrender its state breeding license by July 1, and marks one of the largest documented mass rescues from a commercial research-animal breeding facility. Beagles are the breed most commonly used in laboratory testing because of their calm and trusting temperament.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue, based in western Palm Beach County, Florida, is taking responsibility for 1,000 of the animals, while the Center for a Humane Economy will handle the remaining 500, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The first 300 dogs were removed Friday, with additional transfers scheduled over the following week.

Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, said the beagles showed immediate signs of resilience. "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. I think they are loving the attention. I just know they know they're safe," Simmons said.

More than 700 adoption applications had already been received as of the report. The dogs are being vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered at a Wisconsin staging area before transport to partner shelters nationwide for placement screening.

Ridglan Farms, located about 25 miles southwest of Madison, had been the target of sustained activist pressure. In March, a group broke into the facility and removed 30 dogs; 63 people were referred by the sheriff's office for charges. A protest April 18 drew roughly 1,000 demonstrators; police deployed tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray, and 29 people were arrested, five of them facing felony burglary charges, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The settlement also shields Ridglan from felony prosecution on animal mistreatment charges after a special prosecutor determined the facility had performed eye procedures on animals in violation of state veterinary standards. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Simmons said the breed's temperament makes it especially vulnerable. "A Belgian Malinois is not going to put up with being tested on, being confined in a kennel their whole life. 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," she said.

Simmons said adjustment timelines will vary by age. "The younger dogs will adjust quicker, and the older dogs will take time. A lot of them are more willing to accept love and want to be with people," she said.