III. The Evidence
Seven years of accumulating proof — video, testimony, inspection reports, expert declarations.
The Investigation (2017)
In April 2017, Wayne Hsiung entered Ridglan Farms and documented the conditions on video. The footage shows:
- Dogs confined singly in small cages stacked atop one another
- Dogs repeatedly circling in their cages
- Dogs spinning furiously and without pause
- Wire mesh flooring with buildup of feces
- Dogs walking gingerly on rusty wire
- Dogs with large lesions between their toes
- Dogs with hoarse, hollow barks indicative of devocalization surgery
The Article (2018)
In May 2018, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist published a widely read feature-length article on the deplorable conditions at Ridglan, using the footage obtained by Hsiung.
Inspection Reports (2016-2024)
Government inspectors have documented the same problems year after year:
| Date | Agency | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2016 | DATCP | Puppies' feet passing through floor gaps; stereotypic behaviors |
| Jul 6, 2022 | DATCP | 30% of cages rusty; ammonia causing inspector nausea |
| Dec 5, 2023 | USDA | Puppies' feet passing through mesh floors in 11 enclosures |
| Jun 6, 2024 | DATCP | Drainage failure; stagnant waste; limping dog with ruptured cyst |
| Sep 16, 2024 | DATCP | Drainage failure; limping dog; 3,200 dogs, 16 employees |
The September 2024 inspection — three months after Ridglan was cited for drainage failure — found the exact same drainage problem.
Employee Testimony
Two former employees testified under oath:
- Scott Gilbertson (2021-22): Cherry eye surgeries, conditions, solitary confinement, abnormal behaviors, fecal buildup
- Matthew Reich (2006-2010): Devocalization, cherry eye surgeries, foot injuries, dog-on-dog violence, a cannibalism incident
Expert Declarations
Five experts provided testimony or sworn declarations:
- Dr. Sherstin Rosenberg (veterinarian): Procedures are mutilation; conditions worse than Envigo
- Dr. Lowell Wickman (veterinarian): Surgeons not licensed; agreed fully with Rosenberg
- Dr. Patricia McConnell (ethologist): Ammonia harmful; conditions "torturous for dogs"
- Prof. Marc Bekoff (behaviorist): Behaviors "off scale," dogs "way beyond" normal stress
- Dr. Stacy Lopresti-Goodman (lab animal welfare): Chronic psychological distress, canine PTSD