Thousands of dogs are bred at the Wisconsin-based puppy mill Ridglan Farms. These dogs are sold to animal experimenters around the country, including the University of Illinois. In 2017, investigators entered Ridglan Farms and documented the animal abuse inside, garnering national media attention. They found rows of cages where dogs were confined 24/7 on hard metal floors, causing psychological anguish and untreated ailments. Just recently, whistleblowers at Ridglan revealed employees are routinely asked to cut glands off dogs' eyes without painkillers or veterinary supervision. They called the process a “bloodbath,” spurring calls for a special prosecutor to press charges on Ridglan for criminal animal cruelty.

The investigators who documented these abuses rescued three of the suffering dogs they found inside: Julie, Anna, and Lucy. Today, they enjoy playing in the park and cuddling with their guardians, just like the dogs some of us have as pets. When dogs are sold off to experimenters, however, they are forced to endure painful, deadly experiments. For example, dogs used in research are poisoned with artificial sweeteners or forced to run on treadmills until they suffer heart attacks. Researchers claim these studies are done for science, but more effective, non-violent alternatives are available.

Despite this, Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Susan Martinis has ignored calls for the University of Illinois to stop buying dogs from Ridglan Farms. Last year, Illinois researchers bought beagle puppies from Ridglan, injected them with experimental drugs, monitored them for side effects, and killed them when the study concluded. From the beginning of their lives to their untimely deaths, these puppies never knew anything but abuse, pain, and neglect. Ridglan Farms will treat dogs this way for as long as they are paid to do it by institutions like the University of Illinois. Vice Chancellor Martinis is tasked with ensuring research at Illinois is “ethical.” Yet, by refusing to drop Ridglan, she is denying thousands of dogs the safety and happiness that Julie, Anna, and Lucy enjoy today. We demand that she uphold her duties and stop supporting Ridglan’s violence now.

Just a few weeks ago, prosecutors dropped charges against the activists who rescued three dogs from Ridglan. They were afraid of how media coverage of the trial would reflect on their reputation. They know that public outrage might cause their clients to drop them. We cannot allow the story to be buried. We cannot allow thousands of dogs to languish in cages for deadly, useless experiments. We must show the world Ridglan's abuses and demand they stop. Every Ridglan dog must be freed from their cages and given the happy, safe home they deserve.

Sign now to demand the University of Illinois drop Ridglan Farms!