An additional 135 beagles are being released from Ridglan Farms to Big Dog Ranch Rescue on June 3, the Florida-based nonprofit announced.
Ridglan Farms, based in Blue Mounds, has bred and sold dogs for biomedical research for decades, drawing protests and scrutiny over its treatment of animals.
The announcement comes after an April 29 deal in which Ridglan agreed to release 1,500 beagles to Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy. More than 500 beagles will remain at the facility after the transfer.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue declined to disclose the price or specific terms of either arrangement.
Of the 135 dogs, 67 will travel to Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s Florida campus to be spayed, neutered and prepared for adoption, the rescue group said. The rest will go to partner organizations.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue is accepting donations to support the beagles at www.bdrr.org/beagle-fund.
Two activist operations this spring drew national attention to Ridglan. In March, about 50 people entered the facility and removed 23 beagles.
In April, roughly 1,000 people attempted a second operation and were met with tear gas and rubber bullets from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. No dogs were removed.
Last year, a special prosecutor found enough evidence to charge Ridglan with animal mistreatment for allowing staff to remove eye glands from dogs without anesthesia. In October 2025, Ridglan agreed to surrender its state dog breeding license by July 1, 2026 to avoid prosecution.
Around the same time, state regulators cited Ridglan for 311 violations and the facility’s managing veterinarian had his state license suspended in 2025 in relation to the eye gland procedures.
Ridglan has denied wrongdoing. The facility has declined to disclose plans for the rest of the beagles inside, citing safety concerns prompted by the recent break-ins.
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 135 more beagles to be released from Ridglan to Big Dog Ranch Rescue
Reporting by Quinn Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
