475 Beagles Set for Rescue as Wisconsin Research Facility Permanently Closes

A Wisconsin facility that bred beagles and supplied dogs for research has agreed to permanently close, with its remaining 475 dogs being transferred to rescue organizations.

Ridglan Farms, located near Blue Mounds in Dane County, had operated for decades and had become the center of a long running dispute over the treatment and use of its dogs.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue announced in June that it had reached an agreement for all 475 remaining beagles to leave the property.

The first large group, roughly 325 dogs, was scheduled for transfer in mid June. The remaining 150 were expected to leave by early August.

Once that process is complete, the agreement calls for Ridglan Farms to end dog breeding, sales, research and testing operations.

Where the dogs are going

Big Dog Ranch Rescue said the beagles would be moved to its campuses in Florida and Alabama as well as to partner rescue organizations.

Before adoption, the dogs are expected to receive veterinary examinations, spay or neuter procedures and time to adjust to environments very different from the facility where they had lived.

For some former research or breeding dogs, ordinary household experiences can be unfamiliar.

Grass, stairs, household appliances, open rooms, leashes and even sustained contact with people can require a period of adjustment. Rescue organizations working with laboratory beagles often use foster homes to introduce those experiences gradually.

The Guardian reported on foster families caring for beagles previously removed from Ridglan, describing dogs that initially struggled with basic aspects of life outside a facility.

That does not mean every dog will respond the same way. Some adapt quickly. Others need more time.

Years of controversy

Ridglan Farms had faced years of criticism from animal welfare groups and activists.

The conflict intensified in 2026. Protesters entered the property during separate actions, and law enforcement made arrests. The Associated Press reported that police used tear gas and pepper spray during a large protest in April.

The final closure agreement shifted attention from protests toward moving the remaining animals out safely.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons publicly asked supporters to stop directing protests at the facility and instead focus on helping the dogs transition.

The rescue group had already been involved with large numbers of Ridglan beagles before the final 475 dog agreement.

News reports differ in how they count earlier transfers and purchases because several rescue efforts occurred in stages. What is clear from the June closure announcement is that the final 475 dogs were scheduled to leave and that the facility agreed to end operations after the transfer.

What happens next

Moving hundreds of dogs is a logistical operation on its own.

Each dog needs identification, transportation, veterinary assessment and placement. Rescue campuses then have to decide which dogs are ready for adoption and which need foster care or behavioral support first.

The scale also creates substantial costs for transport, staffing, food and medical care.

For the dogs, however, the change is much more basic.

Kennels that had been their normal environment will no longer be where they spend their lives.

The final group of beagles is expected to move into rescue care, and the facility is expected to close permanently once those transfers are complete.

How we reported this: Buddylio reviewed the named sources, checked the organizations and figures shown above, and added context for animal lovers. Any illustration is labeled and does not depict the actual animals or scene. Articles are editorial content, not veterinary advice.