UPDATE - 4/19/26:

The question of what happens to the dogs still inside Ridglan Farms has become more urgent than ever.

On Saturday, April 18, approximately 1,000 animal welfare activists descended on the facility in Blue Mounds for a second attempt to remove the beagles. Police responded with rubber bullets and pepper spray. Barricades including a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and barbed wire were erected to stop them. Some protesters broke through the fence but were unable to enter the building. About 25 people were arrested, including Wayne Hsiung, the organizer who had publicly announced plans to return with as many as 2,000 people.

The sheriff called it not a peaceful protest. Activists called it desperation.

Both things can be true at once. What Saturday made undeniable is that the longer officials allow the question of these dogs' futures to go unanswered, the more dangerous and volatile the situation becomes for everyone involved, including the animals, the activists, law enforcement, and the surrounding community.

Ridglan Farms agreed to surrender its state breeding license by July 1. That deadline is weeks away. An estimated 2,000 beagles remain inside. There is still no public, transparent plan for what happens to them when the facility closes. Officials have had months to answer that question. Saturday showed what happens when they do not.

The dogs inside Ridglan cannot break through a fence. They cannot organize. They cannot speak. They can only wait. Wisconsin authorities have the power and the responsibility to ensure they do not have to wait much longer for a humane answer.

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UPDATE:

Twenty-two of the beagles removed from Ridglan Farms on March 15 are now scattered across the country, being cared for at undisclosed locations by animal rights volunteers. One of them, an eight-month-old puppy named Ivy by her rescuers, had never seen sunlight or a yard before that day. She was known only by a code tattooed inside her ear. Eight beagles were recovered by Dane County Sheriff's deputies and returned to the facility. More than two dozen activists were detained or arrested during the operation, with five spending the night in jail before being released.

The activist who organized the March 15 operation, Wayne Hsiung, has since announced plans to return to Ridglan Farms with as many as 2,000 people to remove the roughly 2,000 dogs still inside. Whether or not you support that approach, the stakes for the dogs remaining at Ridglan have never been clearer. A college professor who participated in the first operation described leaving the remaining dogs behind as a memory she wishes she could erase. "Those little eyes just waiting and wanting someone to pick them up and take them out of there," she said. The facility is still scheduled to close its breeding operation by summer 2026. The question of what happens to the dogs still inside remains unanswered. Officials must act before someone else does.

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A disturbing incident at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin has brought renewed national attention to a controversial dog breeding facility that reportedly houses nearly 2,000 beagles.

On March 15, dozens of activists entered the facility and removed 23 dogs, while others were detained or arrested by law enforcement. The situation has sparked intense debate. But regardless of how people view the protest itself, one fact is clear: thousands of dogs remain inside the facility and their welfare must be addressed urgently.

Ridglan Farms has already agreed to shut down its breeding operation by July 1 as part of a settlement tied to potential animal cruelty charges. If the facility is scheduled to close within months, there is a critical question that must be answered now. What will happen to the dogs still inside?

These animals deserve a transparent, humane transition plan. Communities across Wisconsin and the country care deeply about the treatment of dogs. Many people believe the remaining animals should be protected and given a safe path forward, including relocation to reputable shelters, rescues, or adoption programs wherever possible.

We are calling on Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to take immediate action.

Local and state officials must ensure the remaining dogs at Ridglan Farms are protected while the facility prepares to close. Authorities should also work with animal welfare organizations to create a transparent and humane plan for the care and placement of these animals.

This issue should not be about politics or conflict. It should be about compassion and responsible oversight. When thousands of dogs are involved, the public deserves reassurance that their welfare is being taken seriously.

Wisconsin residents and people across the country are watching closely. The remaining dogs at Ridglan Farms cannot speak for themselves, but we can.

If you believe these animals deserve protection and a clear plan for their future, add your name today.