Animal rights organizations have struck a deal to rescue 1,500 beagles from a beleaguered research facility in Wisconsin following disruptive protests that resulted in several arrests last month. However, the future of several hundred dogs still housed at the facility remains uncertain.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy successfully negotiated a confidential agreement to acquire the 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, located in Blue Mounds. The terms of the purchase, including the price, have not been disclosed.
Despite the agreement, approximately 500 beagles will continue to reside at the contentious research lab as discussions with animal rights advocates are ongoing, according to a report from Fox6.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue is actively searching for homes for 1,000 of the rescued dogs, while the Center for a Humane Economy will take responsibility for the remaining animals.
In a dramatic incident last month, a wave of 1,000 activists descended on Ridglan Farms, equipped with sledgehammers, prying tools, and chainsaws. Police deployed teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, ultimately arresting 29 individuals, including five who now face felony burglary charges.
Earlier in March, protesters broke into the facility and freed 30 dogs, prompting the sheriff’s department to consider charges against 63 people involved in the break-in.
Ridglan Farms previously agreed to lose its state breeding license, effective on July 1, to avoid being prosecuted on felony animal mistreatment charges.
Though the facility has denied mistreating the pups, a special prosecutor determined they were performing eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards.
Tim Gruenke, the prosecutor who orchestrated the deal, said that Ridglan will still be able to experiment on the beagles inside the facility, despite being barred from selling the dogs, Fox6 reported.
Next week, the Dane County Humane Society will work to get the remaining 500 beagles out of the facility, the outlet said.
“We are engaging in continuing discussions with Ridglan,” Wayne Pacelle with the Center for a Humane Economy told the outlet.
Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, said her group has already received a whopping 700 adoption applications to find the hounds’ new homes — though it may take some time to screen potential dog parents and ensure the dogs are housebroken.
The freed beagles — which are commonly used for animal testing due to their small size and gentle temperament — have been pawing for attention since their rescue.
“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,” Simmons recalled to the Associated Press.
“I think they are loving the attention. I just know they know they’re safe.”
With Post wires
