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‘Not One Dog Left Behind’ at Ridglan Farms

After years of legal battles and protests, the fight over Ridglan Farms and the thousands of beagles that were kept at the Blue Mounds animal breeding and research facility appears to be finally ending.

Ridglan Farms agreed to release the remaining 475 dogs at the facility this summer and then close for good. On Monday, the first of 350 beagles were transferred from the facility to Florida-based Big Dog Ranch Rescue and its rescue partners around the country, with the remaining 125 to be released during the first week in August. [WKOW]

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling talk about how such a fraught issue has reached a happy ending for so many dogs (and their new owners).

Also, they talk with Madison 365’s Robert Chappell about an independent police monitor report that says Madison police were responsible for the death of a man in their custody. (The latest on that story is below.) [🎧City Cast Madison, Madison 365]

The fight between the facility and animal rights activists has been going on for years, but accelerated in the spring after high-profile protests at Ridglan Farms started getting national attention. Here’s how we got here:

April 2017: Three animal rights activists are arrested for breaking into the research facility and taking three beagles. Advocates alleged the beagles were mistreated at Ridglan Farms. [Intercept]

October 2024: Animal rights activists successfully petition Dane County Judge Rhonda Lanford to appoint a special prosecutor to look into conditions at Ridglan. Lanford heard testimony in October that procedures were being performed on dogs without anaesthesia or pain management. [News 3]

January 2025: Lanford appoints La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke as a special prosecutor to look into the allegations. [PBS Wisconsin]

September 2025: The Wisconsin Veterinary Board suspends the license of Ridglan’s lead veterinarian for allowing unlicensed employees to perform surgeries. Then the state Department of Agriculture files a civil enforcement action citing 311 violations. [State of Wisconsin]

October 2025: Gruenke’s report finds that the procedures at Ridglan qualify as felony animal mistreatment. In a plea deal, Ridglan agrees to surrender its breeding license by July 1, 2026. [Spectrum News, State of Wisconsin]

March 2026: On March 17, over 50 activists break into Ridglan Farms and take 23 beagles. The incident goes viral and makes national news, particularly since one of the 27 activists arrested was former “Baywatch” actress Alexandra Paul. [People]

April 2026: Around 1,000 people converge on Ridglan Farms on April 18 at a protest during which another break-in is attempted. Dane County Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement use pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Officers arrested 25 protesters. [Cap Times]

May 2026: On April 29, Ridglan makes a deal with two national animal rescue groups to release 1,500 of the dogs. The dogs begin leaving the facility in May, and Dane County Humane Society receives 500 of the dogs to test them, treat them and get them ready for adoption. [DCHS]

June 2026: Ridglan reaches an agreement to sell or donate its remaining beagles and close its facility. [WPR]

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

This mural is located inside Marie’s Soul Food on Monroe Street!

🎉 Congratulations to Cenon B., Julie R., and Mayur M. for being the first three people to guess correctly!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Do you know where this fearsome beast is located?

• It’s on the near west side
• It’s a bronze statue by sculptor Harry Whitehorse (featured elsewhere in this newsletter!)
• It’s at a very popular intersection for sports fans