A prominent beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin, USA, which has been at the centre of animal rights protests, is to permanently close. Ridglan Farms will transfer its remaining dogs to rescue organisations, marking a significant victory for campaigners who have long opposed the use of animals in research.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue, a Florida-based organisation, announced on Monday that it has reached an agreement with Ridglan Farms for the facility's complete closure. Lauree Simmons, founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, confirmed that "not one dog will remain" and that there would be "no more breeding, no more testing, no more anything" at the site. The beagles will be transported to Big Dog Ranch Rescue's campuses in Florida and Alabama, as well as other rescue groups, where they will be prepared for adoption after being spayed or neutered.
The closure follows extensive pressure from animal rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which hailed the news as a crucial step towards ending animal research. PETA stated that this outcome was the result of "years of pressure" challenging a system they describe as breeding animals "only to be confined, mutilated, poisoned, and killed in laboratories." The organisation pledged to continue its efforts to replace animal testing with what it calls "cutting-edge, superior methods."
Protests against Ridglan Farms escalated earlier this year, with an estimated 1,000 activists clashing with police in April during an attempt to free the beagles, resulting in 29 arrests. Prior to these actions, animal rights attorneys had sought court orders to protect the dogs, citing what they described as the facility's "lengthy record of cruelty."
In October, Ridglan Farms had already reached a settlement with a special prosecutor regarding criminal animal abuse allegations. This agreement required the facility to surrender its licence to sell and breed dogs, though it did not initially mandate changes for the animals still on site. The facility has consistently denied any mistreatment of animals, stating that all transferred dogs are "happy, healthy animals" with extensive inspection documentation. Ridglan Farms also expressed hope that the "years-long harassment campaign targeting the research facility’s owners, staff and neighbours comes to an end."