US Beagle Breeding Facilities
A map of every major US facility that has bred beagles for laboratory research — active and closed. From Marshall's 23,000-dog empire in New York to the shuttered Envigo facility in Virginia to the closing Ridglan operation in Wisconsin.
The United States has never had more than a handful of major beagle breeding facilities at any given time. As of 2026, the industry has consolidated to effectively one dominant supplier after the two other major operations closed within four years of each other.
Active Facilities
Marshall BioResources — North Rose, New York - **Status** — Active. The last major US beagle breeder standing. - **Scale** — ~23,000 dogs on-site - **Founded** — 1939 (ferrets); first beagle colony 1962 - **USDA licenses** — Class A breeder - **Violations** — 20+ AWA violations since 2007 - **Global** — also operates in UK ([MBR Acres](/wiki/mbr-acres)), France, China, Italy, Japan
Recently Closed / Closing
Ridglan Farms — Blue Mounds, Wisconsin - **Status** — Surrendering license by July 1, 2026 - **Scale** — ~3,200 dogs (at closure) - **Founded** — 1960s - **Why closed** — 311 DATCP violations. Lead vet's license suspended. Settlement with special prosecutor. - **Notable** — same USDA inspector (Scott Welch) for all 28 inspections. March 2026 open rescue: 22 beagles freed, 27 arrested.
Envigo (Inotiv) — Cumberland, Virginia - **Status** — Permanently closed (2022-2023) - **Scale** — ~5,000 dogs at peak - **Founded** — 1960s (as Hazleton Laboratories) - **Why closed** — 70+ AWA violations. DOJ civil complaint. $35M fine. 4,000 beagles rescued. - **Corporate chain** — Hazleton → Corning → Covance → Envigo → Inotiv
Full article → | Corporate history →
Historical Facilities
Covance Madison — Madison, Wisconsin - **Status** — Restructured. Now Labcorp Early Development Laboratories. - **Scale** — 3,953 dogs (2013) - **Notable** — Located in Dane County alongside Ridglan — one county, two of the three largest US breeders. Covance was once described as "the world's largest breeder of laboratory dogs."
Liberty Research — Waverly, New York - **Status** — Active (but smaller scale) - **Notable** — Both breeds and tests dogs. Clients include Merck, Zoetis, Bayer. 2017 PETA undercover investigation.
The Consolidation
| Facility | Peak Dogs | Status | Year Closed/Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall BioResources | ~23,000 | **Active** | — |
| Envigo (Cumberland, VA) | ~5,000 | Closed | 2022-2023 |
| Ridglan Farms (WI) | ~3,200 | Closing | July 2026 |
| Covance Madison (WI) | ~3,953 | Restructured | ~2019-2020 |
| Liberty Research (NY) | Unknown | Active (smaller) | — |
In the 2010s, three facilities — Marshall, Ridglan, and Covance/Envigo — dominated the US purpose-bred beagle market. By mid-2026, Marshall will be the only major facility still operating.1
This concentration creates a structural vulnerability. If Marshall faces enforcement action, compliance failure, or decides to exit the market, there is no backup supplier at scale in the United States. CROs and pharmaceutical companies would need to import dogs from Marshall's international facilities or find alternative non-rodent species — potentially accelerating the transition to alternatives.
What About Class B Dealers?
Historically, Class B USDA dealers acquired dogs from pounds, shelters, auctions, and individuals, then sold them to labs. The practice was plagued by fraud, deception, and theft. Since 2010, annual appropriations language has prevented license renewals, and the 2023 appropriations effectively ended Class B dog dealing for research. Only 5 Class B dealers remain in the US, none at significant scale.2
Sources
- 1.AVMA, 2025. Ridglan described as "the nation's second-largest research dog breeder."
- 2.AAVS / National Academies. Class B dealer history and phase-out timeline.