Beagle breeder Ridglan Farms will close the portion of its facility used for breeding beagles to sell them for research.
The decision comes while a special prosecutor investigating the farm intended to charge Ridglan with felony animal cruelty.
Ridglan is the second-largest breeder of beagles used for experimentation to close in less than five years. Envigo pleaded guilty in 2024 to violating the Animal Welfare Act after closing its beagle breeding facility in 2022.
“Rescue organizations stand ready to help place the dogs in loving homes, and we’ll continue to use every option available to us to obtain the release of the dogs,” Rebekah Robinson, president of Dane4Dogs, said in a statement.
“Alliance for Animals is relieved knowing that this facility will no longer be allowed to mistreat beagles,” Kristin Schrank, board president of Alliance for Animals, said in a statement. “The fact that this facility was allowed to remain open while accumulating countless violations of state law and code is shocking. We again thank our local and national partners for their support as we sought to protect the beagles.”
The announcement came after nine months of investigation by the special prosecutor, La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke. A January ruling by Dane County judge Rhonda Lanford concluded prosecutors had failed to act on years of documented cruelty at Ridglan.
In response to the closure, Ridglan sent out the following statement: “Ridglan Farms is in the process of entering a new chapter in our mission to improve the health of pets and humans alike.
“Despite the challenges of the past few months, we are tremendously proud of the outstanding care we provide to our animals, which play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of cutting-edge veterinary and medical treatments.
“At the same time, we remain fully committed to the continuous improvement of our operations, protocols and practices to ensure our animals continue to receive the best care possible. Moving forward, we remain committed to combating disease and improving health in dogs and humans alike.”
Marshall Farms in upstate New York remains the lone large breeder of beagles for experimentation, with about 18,000 dogs.
