First Vans Carry 300 Beagles Out of Ridglan Farms as Rescue Effort Begins to Rehome 1,500 Research Dogs
About 300 beagles were removed Friday from Ridglan Farms in Marshall, Wisconsin, starting a multi-day rescue to rehome roughly 1,500 dogs to shelters and rescues nationwide after purchase by Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy.
- First transport: About 300 beagles were loaded into vans and sent to rescues Friday; see the video report and local coverage.
- Purchase and placement: Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy purchased roughly 1,500 dogs; the Beagle Freedom Project will place about 500 of those dogs.
- Medical screening: Dogs were screened, vaccinated, microchipped and given Benadryl before travel to reduce reaction risk.
- Ongoing operation: Transports continue over multiple days, with shelters such as the Dane County Humane Society scheduled to take large groups starting May 11.
The transfer operation
On Friday morning, vans from several animal welfare groups pulled onto the Ridglan Farms property near Blue Mounds to begin loading dogs. Volunteers and staff worked with veterinarians on site to perform health checks, give vaccinations, place microchips and administer Benadryl — an antihistamine commonly used before transport to reduce stress-related or vaccine-related reactions.
Local television footage and reporting describe the first group of about 300 dogs being gently moved into transport crates and placed into waiting vehicles bound for shelters and rescues around the country (see the video report and local coverage). Organizers said the operation would continue over multiple days, with hundreds more dogs expected to leave over at least the next 10 days.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue, which led the purchase and initial logistics, said many of the dogs will need time to learn basic home life skills such as leash walking and housebreaking.
“It’s a very big win and I am ecstatic to have these dogs out and get them into loving homes,” said Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
What happens to the dogs next
Under the agreement, the rescued beagles will receive full medical exams, vaccinations, microchipping and behavior evaluations before being made available to adoptive families. Placement partners include Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Beagle Freedom Project, the Dane County Humane Society and other regional shelters. Beagle Freedom Project has said it will oversee placements for about 500 dogs.
The Dane County Humane Society announced plans to take in as many as 500 dogs starting May 11, with partners such as the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee and Green Bay accepting large numbers for local adoption and fostering efforts. Rescue groups are asking for foster applications, adoption inquiries and donations to cover medical care and rehoming expenses (see the video report and local coverage).
Background: years of dispute over Ridglan Farms
Ridglan Farms, located in the Blue Mounds area, has bred beagles for scientific research for more than 60 years. Animal welfare advocates long accused the facility of mistreating dogs and supplying animals for painful experiments. Ridglan has denied mistreatment and said its work supports important biomedical research benefiting humans and animals.
Legal action and scrutiny escalated in recent years. A Dane County judge in January 2025 found probable cause for animal cruelty crimes, and a special prosecutor later determined that Ridglan had performed eye procedures on dogs that violated state veterinary standards. Rather than face prosecution, Ridglan agreed to surrender its state breeding license by July 1, 2026, as part of a settlement (reported in local coverage).
USDA estimates cited by local media indicate there were about 2,200 dogs at the Blue Mounds-area site. The current purchase covers roughly 1,500 of those dogs; advocates say efforts will continue to address the remaining animals.
Statements from parties involved
Lauree Simmons of Big Dog Ranch Rescue called the removal a major victory for animal welfare and emphasized the scale of the undertaking: the 1,500-beagle purchase represents most of the facility’s inventory. Leaders from the purchasing groups, including Lori Simmons and animal welfare veteran Wayne Pacelle, were on site during the initial transports to oversee the operation (see the video report).
On the political side, Rep. Nicholas Langworthy (R-N.Y.) wrote on April 24 to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya urging them to cut federal funding for research that uses dogs sourced from Ridglan Farms. “This issue is not about opposing scientific progress; it is about ensuring that federally funded research reflects both ethical standards and scientific advancement,” Langworthy wrote, according to local reporting.
Analysis: why this matters
The removal of the first vans of beagles from Ridglan Farms represents both an animal welfare milestone and a logistical challenge. Moving 1,500 dogs — many of which have spent their lives in kennels and laboratory settings — into foster and adoptive homes requires coordinated veterinary care, behavior rehabilitation, and sustained community support.
Rescue groups must evaluate each dog’s health and temperament, manage infectious disease risk, and train animals that may never have experienced a household. There are also broader questions for the research community and regulators about sourcing, oversight and animal welfare standards in federally funded studies. Congressional requests to review and potentially cut funding for work using Ridglan-sourced dogs underscore the political and ethical scrutiny the episode has drawn.
Implications for Sonoma, California
Economic and community impact
- Rescue and adoption pipeline: Sonoma County animal welfare groups and rescue volunteers could be asked to help foster, transport or adopt some of the Ridglan beagles. Local organizations that partner with national placement networks may receive transfer requests; coordination hubs include the placement pages listed by Beagle Freedom Project and national partners referenced in reporting.
- Veterinary demand: A wave of beagles entering adoption channels can increase demand for veterinary services — from spaying and neutering to vaccinations and behavior work — and local clinics may see requests for low-cost services or volunteer assistance.
Political and regulatory consequences
Local policymakers and residents who follow animal welfare and research ethics will likely watch whether federal agencies tighten rules governing sourcing of animals for research. Sonoma’s community could push for transparency or stricter procurement policies at local universities and research institutions.
Social and cultural effects
Adoption interest and volunteerism in Sonoma may grow as residents respond to calls for fosters, donations and volunteer support. The transfer also provides an opportunity for local humane groups to educate the public about the needs of dogs transitioning from kennel life, including leash training, socialization and patience during housebreaking.
Practical steps for Sonoma residents
- Monitor national placement pages maintained by the rescue groups and shelters (see Beagle Freedom Project’s Ridglan page and local shelter sites referenced in reporting) for foster and adoption openings.
- Veterinary clinics and volunteers can contact national and regional partners to offer pro bono or discounted services and coordinate with local shelters to manage increased demand.
Reporting notes and sources
This article draws on on-site video reporting and local news coverage of the Ridglan Farms transfers (see the video report and local coverage) and statements from rescue organizations, including Beagle Freedom Project. Legal background regarding Ridglan Farms’ license surrender and findings about veterinary-standard violations is reported by local outlets.
All original facts, information, and source links have been preserved.
