Animal Welfare Activists Protest at Wisconsin Capitol Demanding Release of Beagles

Approximately 1,000 activists traveled to Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds on Saturday, aiming to liberate an estimated 2,000 beagles housed there. Their efforts were met with police force, including tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray, resulting in 29 arrests, according to the Dane County Sheriff’s Department.

Outside the Capitol, more than 100 protesters faced police who distributed contact forms for constituents to voice their concerns. Neither Evers nor Attorney General Josh Kaul responded to requests for comment, nor did their offices engage directly with the demonstrators, who carried images of officials interacting with dogs.

Aidan Kankyoku, co-leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, expressed hopes that Evers and Kaul would address the issue publicly. He stated that they also seek a search warrant for the facility to probe ongoing animal cruelty allegations. Kankyoku emphasized their goal, saying, “We just want the dogs out.”

Ridglan Farms has denied any allegations of animal mistreatment. In October, the facility agreed to relinquish its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on such charges. They assert on their website that no credible evidence of animal abuse has been presented against them.

Ridglan Farms claims to have operated as a biomedical research facility for over 60 years, focusing on research that benefits both humans and animals, particularly in veterinary medicine.

In response to the weekend protests, Ridglan condemned the activists for allegedly spreading false information and claimed that their staff had faced threats after these events. The facility stated they hope those arrested would be held accountable for their actions.

Many activists returned to the Capitol on Monday, expressing frustration over the police response and revealing injuries allegedly incurred during the clashes. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett defended his officers' actions, describing their response as “appropriate and decisive” given the risk posed by the protesters who attempted to breach the facility.

The sheriff indicated that around 300 to 400 activists were involved and highlighted the danger shown in video footage of a truck attempting to gain entry into Ridglan’s property. He noted that one video captured an activist taking a baton from an officer amid the chaos.

This is not the first instance of activists breaking into Ridglan; in March, they entered the facility and took 30 dogs, leading to 27 arrests for trespassing and related offenses.

U.S. Representative Mark Pocan has urged state officials to collaborate with Ridglan to devise a plan that ensures the dogs are not overwhelmed by placement groups and are not at risk of euthanasia. In a recent House Appropriations Committee hearing, he posed questions to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about federal grants related to organizations using beagles from Ridglan Farms. Kennedy expressed skepticism about Pocan's statements but committed to investigating further.