Beagles Trapped for Research: Wisconsin Facility Closing, But Fate of 2,500 Dogs Still at Stake
A Breeding Farm Bound for Closure—But Still Selling Dogs
After years of relentless activism and investigation, a major turning point has arrived for animal welfare advocates. Ridglan Farms, once one of the largest beagle-breeding facilities in the U.S. for laboratory testing, has agreed to shut down its breeding operations by July 1 2026. But victory for the dogs is still uncertain—approximately 2,500 beagles remain inside the facility, and under the current deal, many could still be sold on to research labs.
“While we’re thrilled that they’re shutting down,” says Dane4Dogs president Rebekah Robinson, “we’re extremely disappointed and quite frustrated by the fact that they will still be able to sell the remaining dogs.” Advocates describe the conditions at Ridglan as horrific: allegations include eyelids and vocal cords cut without anesthesia, wire-bottom cages soaked in filth, and dogs exhibiting stress behaviors such as spinning in their kennels.
👉 SIGN THE PETITION to demand that Wisconsin officials step in and ensure every remaining Ridglan beagle is released to adoption programs—not sold to labs.
The Real Human Cost Behind the Numbers
Beagles are chosen for testing because of their gentle, trusting nature—qualities that make them excellent companions, but were instead exploited for profit. A March 2025 opinion piece by prominent animal scientist Marc Bekoff and conservationist Jane Goodall laid out how the system fails these dogs, detailing cage conditions so bad that dogs were left limping, without human contact, and surrounded by feces and stagnant water.
One former employee testified that procedures known as “cherry-eye removal” and vocal cord surgeries were performed without anesthesia by non-veterinarians—just two examples of the cruelty beagles in such facilities routinely face. Under the settlement, Ridglan will surrender its breeding license but will continue to conduct research on-site, meaning the dog sales end but experimentation continues.
👉 SIGN THE PETITION to urge the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to coordinate safe adoptions for all remaining dogs and ensure enforcement of lifetime bans for facilities that break the law.
Why This Matters—and What’s Still at Risk
This isn’t just about one facility—it’s a symbol of how tens of thousands of dogs every year are bred solely for research, often subject to painful tests, confinement, and neglect. The U.S. uses more than 40,000 dogs annually in research, with beagles being among the most common victims. Advocates argue that criminal conviction alone is not enough; real change requires intervention, oversight, and permanent bans on offenders to protect future vulnerable animals.
Despite the milestone at Ridglan, the deal raises major questions: What happens to the thousands of dogs in limbo? Will they be freed into loving homes, or shuffled into other labs? Activists emphasize that this moment must be treated as a real win—not a quiet exit route for one of the largest U.S. suppliers of research dogs.
👉 SIGN THE PETITION now to call on Wisconsin lawmakers and animal advocacy groups to make adoption the default outcome—not more suffering. Let these dogs know they matter, and that change is possible.
These dogs are counting on us. Their lives may have been defined by fear, confinement, and cruelty—but together, we can push for their future to be defined by freedom, love, and safety. Sign the petition, share this story, and demand true justice for America’s most vulnerable companions.
To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:
- Two Family Dogs Were Shot With Arrows on a Hunting Trip. Now, the Public Demands Justice
- Caught on CCTV: Dog Killed in Apartment Lift in Bengaluru — Outrage Grows for Goofy
- Beagles Trapped for Research: Wisconsin Facility Closing, But Fate of 2,500 Dogs Still at Stake
- Two Women Arrested for Setting Dog on Fire — Public Demands Justice and Lifetime Animal Ownership Bans
- Chihuahua Found with Eyes and Private Parts Glued Shut in Horrific Los Angeles Abuse Case
