Facts (135)
Ridglan Farms is a Class A USDA-licensed beagle breeding facility in Dane County, Wisconsin.
As of September 2024, Ridglan houses approximately 3,200 dogs and employs approximately 16 full-time staff.
Three of the sixteen employees' duties primarily consist of dog socialization, averaging approximately two minutes per dog per week.
Beagles are the breed of choice for animal testing due to their docile temperament, uniform size, and genetic consistency.
Dogs at Ridglan are confined singly in wire mesh cages, never taken on walks, never let outside, and never removed except to be transferred or shipped.
Scott Gilbertson testified that in January 2022, he participated in cherry eye removal surgeries as part of his employment duties at Ridglan.
During cherry eye surgeries, Gilbertson held down the dog while Leah Staley cut an eye gland without anesthesia, blood control, or aftercare.
Gilbertson testified: 'The dog would be thrashing around in pain, often yelping, crying out. Then we just put them back in the cage.'
Cherry eye surgeries caused substantial bleeding: 'There would usually be a puddle on the floor — a pretty good size puddle.' Performed on a near daily basis.
Matthew Reich testified he held down dogs while Jim Hiltbrandt or Al Olson conducted cherry eye removal without anesthesia, blood control, or aftercare on a near daily basis (2006-2010).
Reich testified: 'It would bleed profusely for several minutes. Sometimes it would start pouring onto my hand before I even let go of the dog.'
Reich testified about devocalization surgeries: dogs given a paralytic agent but no anesthesia, then Hiltbrandt or Olson cut and removed their vocal cords. 30-40 dogs at a time, monthly.
Dr. Wickman confirmed that Leah Staley, Jim Hiltbrandt, and Al Olson are not on Wisconsin's list of licensed veterinarians or veterinary technicians.
Dr. Rosenberg testified that cherry eye and devocalization procedures as conducted by Ridglan amount to mutilation — removal of important organs without therapeutic benefit by non-veterinarians.
Gilbertson testified that cherry eye removal was a 'standard operating practice' at Ridglan, tracked on a whiteboard.
Wis. Admin. Code VE 1.44 provides that performing surgery 'may not be delegated to or performed by veterinary technicians or other persons not holding a veterinary license.'
The American Veterinary Medical Association strongly discourages devocalization procedures.
Dr. Rosenberg testified the devocalization procedure is unnecessary because alternatives exist — additional enrichment, larger spaces, or sound dampening.
Wire mesh flooring at Ridglan systematically causes foot injuries — interdigital cysts, lacerations, and infections — documented since 2006.
DATCP October 2016: 'Puppies' feet and legs were passing through the gaps in the flooring.'
DATCP July 2022: 'Approximately 30% of the enclosures with walls constructed of coated wire had some degree of rust or the wire coating was worn off.'
DATCP July 2022: Inspector reported ammonia/odor level 'bad enough that I experienced nausea on one occasion, and my throat and nostrils were irritated for several hours after I left the facility.'
USDA December 2023: 'Some of the weaned puppies and preweaning-aged puppies in eleven enclosures were observed to have feet or legs pass through the smooth-coated mesh floors.'
DATCP June 2024: Drainage systems not rapidly eliminating animal waste. Dog limping with ruptured interdigital cyst — no documentation.
DATCP September 2024: Same drainage failure as June 2024 — only three months after being cited. Dog limping with scratches/puncture wounds, no documentation.
Reich testified he saw dogs with large blisters or ulcers — sometimes the size of golf balls — between their toes on a daily basis. In five years, he never saw anyone replace a cage.
Gilbertson testified the flooring was wire with rust in some spots. He saw dogs with inflamed feet or lying down for long periods to relieve pressure daily.
Hsiung observed dogs confined singly to small cages with several dogs spinning endlessly when he entered Ridglan in April 2017.
DATCP October 2016 noted: 'A number of adult dogs in the facility were displaying prominent stereotypical behaviors; such as: circling, pacing, and wall bouncing.'
Prof. Bekoff testified the dogs were 'extremely stressed' and behaviors were 'off scale' and 'way beyond anything I've ever seen in what I would consider to be a normal dog.'
Dr. McConnell stated conditions at Ridglan are 'torturous for dogs' and 'do not constitute proper or adequate shelter, and such treatment causes extreme suffering for dogs.'
Dr. Lopresti-Goodman concluded many dogs suffer from 'chronic psychological distress' including canine Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Gilbertson testified he saw hundreds of dogs in solitary confinement — never taken on walks, never let outside, never removed from cages except to transfer.
Gilbertson testified about daily abnormal behaviors including fighting and spinning. Ridglan did not separate fighting dogs.
Reich testified he saw a dead dog whose body cavity had been entered by cage-mates — they had apparently devoured a portion of the dog's innards.
In April 2017, Wayne Hsiung entered Ridglan Farms and documented conditions on video, including spinning dogs, wire flooring, and devocalized dogs.
Exhibit 10 is a 2017 video showing a dog with a hoarse, hollow bark indicative of devocalization surgery.
Exhibits 6, 11, 12, 13 are videos showing dogs spinning furiously, circling endlessly in their cages.
Exhibit 22 is a vet record for a dog rescued from Ridglan in 2017 showing infected feet causing limping and pain.
Exhibits 23-24 are videos showing a rescued dog walking awkwardly on solid ground for the first time.
In May 2018, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist published a feature article on Ridglan using Hsiung's footage.
Five experts provided testimony or declarations: Dr. Rosenberg, Dr. Wickman (veterinarians), Dr. McConnell (ethologist), Prof. Bekoff (behaviorist), Dr. Lopresti-Goodman (lab animal welfare).
Dr. Rosenberg testified conditions at Ridglan are significantly worse than Envigo, a facility recently shut down by the federal government.
Gilbertson was assigned to clean hundreds of cages by himself — 'a near impossible task given the scale of Ridglan and the understaffing.'
Dr. Rosenberg testified that decomposing feces in Exhibits 18 and 19 had not been removed for days, demonstrating systemic understaffing.
The DA's Office has been aware of criminal activity at Ridglan for over six years but has refused to even open an investigation.
May 2018: Hsiung's organization contacted DA, Sheriff, and Animal Control after the Pulitzer article. No response from any agency.
October 2022: The Animal Law Firm submitted a criminal complaint to Animal Control, Sheriff, and DA requesting charges. No response.
May 2023: Follow-up complaint to DA with 2017 evidence and recent inspection reports. No response.
March 2024: Hsiung shared evidence of surgical mutilations from former employees. Called, emailed, filed complaint online. No response.
March 18, 2024: Hsiung delivered complaint and criminal referral from a former federal prosecutor to DA and Sheriff in person. No response.
April 18, 2024: Hsiung and Schrank met with DA Ozanne for 10 minutes. Ozanne's only response: 'You will hear from us.' No follow-up.
October 22, 2024: Open records request revealed the DA's Office had received 983 separate emails asking them to investigate Ridglan. No response to any.
At a September 12, 2024 hearing, DA Ozanne stated he had never received a 'referral' — despite having received several, including from a former federal prosecutor.
Despite all interactions with the DA's Office — including an in-person meeting — at no point did Ozanne inform Petitioners he would only prosecute upon referral by law enforcement.
Petitioners also shared evidence with the Dane County Sheriff, who never investigated or issued a referral to the DA.
The DA can claim he only prosecutes if the Sheriff investigates; the Sheriff can claim he only investigates if the DA will prosecute — a catch-22 that § 968.02(3) was designed to prevent.
DATCP has inspected Ridglan multiple times (2016, 2022, 2024x2). Each inspection finds problems. None result in meaningful enforcement.
The September 2024 DATCP inspection found the exact same drainage failure cited in the June 2024 inspection — three months earlier.
The December 2023 USDA inspection found puppies' feet passing through flooring — the same issue DATCP cited in 2016, seven years earlier.
Envigo was a beagle breeding facility in Virginia shut down in 2022 after USDA inspections found widespread animal welfare violations. ~4,000 beagles were rescued.
Dr. Rosenberg testified that Ridglan's conditions are significantly worse than dog production facilities recently shut down by the federal government, such as Envigo.
The question is not whether Ridglan's conditions violate the law — inspectors have documented violations year after year. The question is why Wisconsin tolerates what Virginia did not.
Wisconsin Statute § 951.02 provides: 'No person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person or another, in a cruel manner.'
'Cruel' means causing unnecessary and excessive pain or suffering or unjustifiable injury or death. Wis. Stat. § 951.01(2).
If cruel treatment results in 'mutilation' or 'disfigurement' — even if not intended — the violation of § 951.02 is a Class I felony. § 951.18(1).
Wisconsin Statute § 951.14 creates an ongoing duty to provide proper shelter including indoor standards, ventilation, space requirements, and sanitation standards.
Wisconsin Statute § 968.02(3) allows a circuit judge to appoint a special prosecutor when a DA refuses to prosecute and there is probable cause of a criminal offense.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court held in State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court (2004) that a 'refusal' to prosecute can be indirect and inferred from a long silence.
A refusal does not require 'an explicit statement of refusal from the district attorney.' Kalal at 669.
The Post-Hearing Brief notes that the offenses outlined 'are not exhaustive of the potential charges that could be brought against Ridglan.'
State v. Klingelhoets (2012): The state does not have to prove the defendant intended to cause the animal's death for a felony conviction under § 951.02/951.18(1).
Open questions remain: Who owns Ridglan Farms? What is its corporate structure? What is the lead veterinarian's role?
Complete DATCP and USDA inspection histories should be obtained via open records and FOIA.
Ridglan's customer list — which pharmaceutical and research companies purchase dogs — should be investigated.
In January 2025, a Dane County judge ordered the appointment of a special prosecutor, finding probable cause that Ridglan Farms has committed multiple criminal violations of Wisconsin Statute § 951.
La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke was appointed as special prosecutor in February 2025 to investigate potential criminal animal cruelty at Ridglan Farms.
Gruenke's investigation found that the strongest evidence of a crime was related to cherry eye surgeries performed by non-veterinarians without anesthesia.
DATCP cited Ridglan Farms for 311 violations: 308 counts of mistreating dogs and 3 counts of failing to perform required daily health checks, dating back to 2022.
DATCP proposed a civil forfeiture of $55,148.50 in fines and fees for the 311 violations.
Most of the 311 DATCP violations involve cherry eye surgery — removing a third eye gland without any anesthetic.
Richard Van Domelen, Ridglan's lead veterinarian and facility manager, had his license unanimously suspended by the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board on September 30, 2025.
Van Domelen's license was suspended for delegating cherry eye removal surgeries to unlicensed employees without proper anesthesia.
Earlier in 2025, the Veterinary Examining Board had allowed Van Domelen to keep practicing under conditions, but a surprise inspection found record-keeping problems, triggering the emergency suspension.
On October 28, 2025, Ridglan Farms agreed to surrender its DATCP license to sell purpose-bred beagles to outside researchers by July 1, 2026, in exchange for the special prosecutor not filing criminal charges.
Under the settlement, Ridglan may retain approximately 84 beagles for internal research but cannot sell dogs to outside labs.
Ridglan Farms does not admit to having any criminal or civil liability in the settlement.
All 28 of Ridglan Farms' USDA inspection records were prepared by the same USDA Veterinary Medical Officer: Scott Welch.
When USDA inspector Welch worked alone, he documented violations at Ridglan only 4% of the time (1 of ~25 inspections).
When Welch was accompanied by other USDA staff, the violation rate jumped to 50%. When accompanied by USDA Animal Care Specialists, the rate was 100%.
The USDA recorded no violations in 25 of 28 inspection records — while DATCP, inspecting the same facility, found 311 violations.
Ridglan Farms, Inc. is the nation's second-largest research dog breeder. It has operated since the 1960s.
Ridglan Farms holds both a USDA Class A license (breeder) and a USDA Class R license (research facility).
On March 15, 2026, approximately 100 activists from the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs marched to the facility. A smaller group entered and removed approximately 22 beagles.
Police intercepted two vans carrying rescued beagles. 27 activists were arrested, including Wayne Hsiung and actress Alexandra Paul. They were released March 17.
Envigo RMS LLC (owned by Inotiv Inc.) operated a beagle breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia. The DOJ filed a civil complaint in May 2022 for systematic AWA violations.
Envigo's violations included inadequate vet care, over 300 puppy deaths, improper euthanasia, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions. The facility was ordered shut down and ~4,000 beagles were rescued.
The Envigo rescue, coordinated by HSUS, was one of the largest animal rescues in U.S. history and helped build bipartisan Congressional support for the FDA Modernization Act 2.0.
The FDA Modernization Act 2.0, signed December 2022, removed the mandate that drugs be tested on animals before human clinical trials, allowing alternative methods.
An estimated 60,000-70,000 dogs (predominantly beagles) are used in research annually in the U.S. Beagles are preferred for their docile temperament, uniform size, and regulatory acceptance.
Beagles are used in toxicology testing (acute, subchronic, chronic), pharmacokinetic studies, cardiovascular safety pharmacology, inhalation toxicology, oral gavage (force-feeding), and dermal toxicity tests.
Beagles are the preferred species for cardiovascular safety testing because their hearts closely model human cardiac function. Dogs are surgically implanted with telemetry transmitters to monitor drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias.
In inhalation toxicology studies, dogs are placed in chambers or fitted with masks and forced to breathe aerosolized compounds for hours daily, often for weeks or months.
Oral gavage involves inserting a tube through the dog's mouth into the stomach to force-feed test substances daily, sometimes for months. Dogs often resist, requiring restraint.
The USDA classifies research animal pain as Column C (no pain), Column D (pain with relief), or Column E (pain without relief). Approximately 6,000-7,000 dogs per year are in Column E — experiencing full toxic effects without pain mitigation.
At the end of nearly all studies, beagles are euthanized and a full necropsy performed. An estimated 95%+ of research beagles are killed at study completion.
A laboratory beagle's average lifespan is 1-3 years. A normal pet beagle lives 12-15 years.
Marshall BioResources (North Rose, NY) is the world's largest purpose-bred beagle supplier. Operating since the 1960s with facilities in the US, UK, China, France, Italy, and Japan. 'Marshall Beagle' is the de facto industry standard.
A single purpose-bred research beagle costs $3,000-$7,000+. Surgically prepared animals (e.g., with implanted telemetry devices) cost significantly more.
A single chronic toxicology study using beagles can cost $1-5 million depending on duration and endpoints. The global preclinical CRO market exceeds $20 billion annually.
The beagle trade is global. Marshall BioResources operates facilities in at least 7 countries. Research beagles are shipped internationally via air freight.
Purpose-bred beagles are bred for genetic consistency, docile temperament, and small size (8-14 kg). The 13-inch variety is preferred over the 15-inch. They are identified by ear tattoo or microchip — they do not have names.
Research beagles are the FDA's default 'non-rodent species' for drug testing. Decades of baseline data create regulatory inertia — switching species is seen as scientifically risky.
Breeding females produce multiple litters per year (average 5-7 puppies per litter). Puppies are weaned at 6-8 weeks and shipped to labs at 4-6 months. Breeding females are retired after several years — their fate varies.
The FDA Modernization Act 2.0 (December 2022) removed the legal mandate that drugs must be tested on animals before human clinical trials. It allows alternatives like organ-on-a-chip, in silico modeling, and organoids.
The EPA committed to eliminating mammalian testing for pesticides by 2035. Several pharma companies (Roche, GSK, AstraZeneca) have invested heavily in alternative methods.
The Beagle Freedom Project, founded 2010, has been instrumental in passing 'beagle freedom laws' in multiple states requiring labs to offer dogs for adoption instead of euthanasia after studies.
When adopted, former lab beagles often exhibit profound fear of everyday stimuli — grass, stairs, sunlight, human touch — having never experienced them.
USDA Class A license authorizes breeding and raising animals for research. Class B license authorized buying and reselling — effectively eliminated for dogs in 2023 due to 'buncher' scandals.
There are fewer than a dozen major USDA Class A licensed dog breeding facilities in the US. The industry is highly concentrated among Marshall BioResources, Ridglan Farms, and a few others.
Marshall BioResources confines approximately 23,000 dogs in its sheds at any given time. It has been cited for more than 20 USDA Animal Welfare Act violations since 2007.
Over 6,000 beagles from Marshall were documented as having been shipped as cargo on SAS passenger planes via Copenhagen Airport to seven European countries. The route was disrupted after a 2023 investigative expose.
With Envigo closed (2023) and Ridglan surrendering its license (July 2026), Marshall BioResources is becoming the near-monopoly supplier of purpose-bred beagles in the United States.
Envigo pleaded guilty and was fined $35 million — the largest penalty in Animal Welfare Act history. Violations included 300+ puppy deaths, puppies crushed by mothers in overcrowded cages, and workers injecting euthanasia drugs into puppies' hearts without sedation.
In 2023, 450 dogs experienced pain without relief (USDA Column E) — a 20% increase from 2022. These dogs experience the full toxic effects of test substances without any pain mitigation.
Dog usage in US labs peaked at over 200,000 per year in the late 1970s-early 1980s. By 2024 it had declined to approximately 42,880 — but use for regulated toxicology testing has actually increased.
In April 2025, the FDA announced plans to phase out animal tests as the default for preclinical drug testing, aiming to make animal studies 'the exception rather than the norm' within 3-5 years.
The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December 2025, further advancing the transition away from mandatory animal testing.
In May 2025, NIH closed its last in-house beagle laboratory — ending a 40-year program. White Coat Waste Project alleged NIH killed more than 2,133 beagles in septic shock experiments.
Congress directed the VA to end experiments on dogs, cats, and primates by 2026. VA dog usage had already declined from roughly 700 dogs to 9 dogs over 19 years.
The 'smoking beagles' experiments (1967-1970): 86 beagles were devocalized, then forced to smoke cigarettes through tubes inserted into surgical openings in their windpipes. 20 developed cancers.
Purpose-bred laboratory beagles are genetically distinct from pet beagles. They have different DLA (dog leukocyte antigen) haplotype frequencies, meaning vaccine trial results from lab colonies may not reflect responses in the general dog population.
The Beagle Freedom Project has rescued more than 3,000 animals in 36 states and 8 countries. 17 states now have 'beagle freedom laws' requiring labs to offer dogs for adoption instead of euthanasia.
The organ-on-a-chip market was valued at $153.8 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.08 billion by 2031. Major companies include Emulate, MIMETAS, and CN Bio Innovations.
The first institution to experiment on beagles was the University of Utah in 1951, for Atomic Energy Commission radiation studies. At UC Davis alone, at least 1,231 beagles were used; 800 radioactive beagle carcasses were later found dumped in the university landfill.