SG
Scott Gilbertson
Subjectwitness
Former employee of Ridglan Farms in the winter of 2021-22. Testified about cherry eye removal surgeries, living conditions, fecal buildup, and abnormal behaviors.
Roles
RidglanEmployee
2021–2022Testimony
hearingDane County Circuit Court2024JD000001
Testified about cherry eye removal surgeries performed without anesthesia by non-vets, wire flooring with rust, dogs with inflamed feet, fecal buildup, hundreds of dogs in solitary confinement, abnormal behaviors including fighting and spinning.
“The dog would be thrashing around in pain, often yelping, crying out. Then we just put them back in the cage.”
“There would usually be a puddle on the floor — a pretty good size puddle.”
cherry_eyeno_anesthesiaflooringfoot_injuriesfecal_buildupsolitary_confinementstereotypic_behaviorfighting
Related Facts (9)
A1Scott Gilbertson testified that in January 2022, he participated in cherry eye removal surgeries as part of his employment duties at Ridglan.#6
A1During cherry eye surgeries, Gilbertson held down the dog while Leah Staley cut an eye gland without anesthesia, blood control, or aftercare.#7
A1Gilbertson testified: 'The dog would be thrashing around in pain, often yelping, crying out. Then we just put them back in the cage.'#8
A1Cherry 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.#9
A1Gilbertson testified that cherry eye removal was a 'standard operating practice' at Ridglan, tracked on a whiteboard.#15
B1Gilbertson 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.#27
B1Gilbertson testified he saw hundreds of dogs in solitary confinement — never taken on walks, never let outside, never removed from cages except to transfer.#33
B1Gilbertson testified about daily abnormal behaviors including fighting and spinning. Ridglan did not separate fighting dogs.#34
B1Gilbertson was assigned to clean hundreds of cages by himself — 'a near impossible task given the scale of Ridglan and the understaffing.'#44