Protest Explodes in Wisconsin Over Beagle Facility

Sun Apr 19 2026 22:58:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Approximately 1,000 animal welfare activists clashed with police during a protest against a beagle breeding facility in Wisconsin, resulting in arrests and injuries.

On Saturday, about 1,000 protesters gathered outside the Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, in an attempt to liberate beagles from the facility. The situation escalated when police intervened, using rubber bullets and pepper spray, leading to multiple arrests, including that of the group's leader. Protesters were reportedly blocking emergency access and trying to breach barricades. This was the latest in a series of protests against the facility amid allegations of animal mistreatment, which Ridglan Farms denies.

BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. (AP) — About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett reported that the protest marks the second attempt in as many months to seize beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility located about 25 miles southwest of the state capital, Madison.

According to Barrett, many demonstrators were violently attempting to break into the property, ignoring designated peaceful protest areas while obstructing essential services by blocking the roads.

The protesters, equipped with a plan to "rescue" beagles, clashed with police who deployed non-lethal measures to disperse the crowd. A significant number were arrested but officials did not disclose exact numbers, citing an ongoing processing situation.

As some protesters managed to breach barricades, they were ultimately unsuccessful in entering the facility that houses around 2,000 beagles, facing off against a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence designed to keep unauthorized access at bay.

“I just feel defeated,” activist Julie Vrzeski expressed, sharing her frustration after several hours into the protest.

Activists later relocated their protest to a downtown Madison jail, voicing their concerns about animal welfare and the conditions at Ridglan Farms. The organization Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs was behind this effort and had announced plans publicly before their surprise operation.

Earlier this year, protesters had successfully entered the facility and taken 30 dogs, leading to charges against several individuals for trespassing and other violations. Ridglan Farms has denied they mistreat the dogs and is reportedly resigning its breeding license in a deal avoiding prosecution related to animal mistreatment allegations.

On their website, Ridglan Farms asserts that no credible evidence of animal abuse or neglect has ever been substantiated.