Reporting by Quinn Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ridglan Farms – the Blue Mounds facility that bred thousands of beagles for biomedical research for nearly 60 years – is ceasing operations and releasing its final 155 dogs to an animal rescue group Aug. 12.
The Wisconsin breeding facility drew national attention after animal rights activists led two break-ins in March and April, leading to dozens of arrests and criminal charges.
Ridglan Farms agreed to sell its beagles to animal welfare groups shortly thereafter, and, in June, confirmed its plans to close.
Activists had urged officials to investigate animal abuse concerns at Ridglan for years.
In 2025, their concerns sparked an investigation into the farm. A special prosecutor found Ridglan employees had removed dogs’ eye glands without anesthesia, a practice that the prosecutor said could amount to felony animal mistreatment.
To avoid prosecution, Ridglan agreed to surrender its state breeding license by July 1, 2026. It has long denied mistreating any of the dogs in its care.
But in April, after the series of highly-publicized raids, the company agreed to sell 1,500 of its more than 2,000 dogs to two animal rescue organizations – Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy.
Since then, the Center for a Humane Economy accused Big Dog Ranch Rescue of cutting it out of a deal for the remaining dogs, and possibly offering a higher price than necessary. The center previously told the Journal Sentinel it began negotiating with Ridglan in February, months before Big Dog Ranch Rescue was involved.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue, a Florida-based animal rescue group, said Aug. 10 it has now “rescued and relocated” 2,115 beagles from Ridglan since April 29.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue has not disclosed what it paid for the beagles.
In a statement Aug. 10, Big Dog Ranch Rescue thanked donors for their support, including iPaw Rescue, an initiative founded by billionaire investor Carl Icahn; the Robert and Perri Bishop Foundation, run by Palm Beach investor Robert Bishop; and Satish Karandikar, a plant-based food company investor.
“This agreement represents a historic victory for these beagles and for everyone who believes dogs deserve protection from cruelty,” said Lauree Simmons, founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, in the release.
The statement also credits anonymous donors and Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s own board members.
Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, sits on the board of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, and has spoken out multiple times about the beagles since April.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue said the final 155 dogs include 141 puppies believed to be about four months old. According to the rescue organization, they will be vaccinated, spayed and neutered before being placed in homes.
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at QClark@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ridglan Farms to close after final beagles go to Big Dog Ranch Rescue
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