Ridglan Farms, a research puppy mill in Blue Mounds that is currently under investigation, has filed a lawsuit against a local dog advocacy organization, Dane4Dogs, according to The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project. In its complaint, Ridglan claims that its loss of customers and mounting legal problems are the result of protests, social media posts, requests that Ridglan customers stop buying dogs from Ridglan and animal advocates “participating in the judicial and administrative complaint process” — all of which is protected by the First Amendment, according to attorneys.
A judge, state and federal regulatory bodies and a lawyer with the Veterinary Examining Board have all found the allegations by animal advocates to be credible. Despite documentation that supports those allegations by state and federal inspectors, statements from nine current employees that documented 17 years of unlawful surgeries and other violations, testimony from veterinarians and other experts and photo and video recordings, Ridglan insists in its complaint that animal advocates’ claims are “misleading” and “false.”
Ridglan filed its lawsuit against Dane4Dogs, Rebekah Robinson, Jamie Hagenow and a former Ridglan employee who testified at the evidentiary hearing in support of the appointment of a special prosecutor.
