MR
Matthew Reich
Subjectwitness
Former employee of Ridglan Farms from 2006 to 2010. Testified about devocalization surgeries, cherry eye removal, foot injuries, dog-on-dog violence, and a cannibalism incident.
Roles
RidglanEmployee
2006–2010Testimony
hearingDane County Circuit Court2024JD000001
Testified about devocalization surgeries (30-40 dogs at a time, monthly), cherry eye removal without anesthesia, foot injuries (golf ball-sized blisters), dogs spinning and pacing, and a dead dog whose body cavity had been partially devoured by cage-mates.
“It would bleed profusely for several minutes. Sometimes it would start pouring onto my hand before I even let go of the dog.”
“When he reached down to drag the dog out of the enclosure, his hand passed through the dog's chest and into the body cavity — the other dogs had apparently devoured a portion of the dog's innards.”
devocalizationcherry_eyeno_anesthesiafoot_injuriesstereotypic_behaviorcannibalismdog_violence
Related Facts (5)
A1Matthew 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).#10
A1Reich testified: 'It would bleed profusely for several minutes. Sometimes it would start pouring onto my hand before I even let go of the dog.'#11
A1Reich 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.#12
B1Reich 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.#26
B1Reich 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.#35