More than 1,500 beagles were transferred from the Ridgeland Farms breeding facility in Wisconsin to rescue organizations across the U.S. [1].
The relocation follows a targeted effort by animal-rights activists to stop the breeding of beagles for research purposes. This nationwide movement highlights the ongoing conflict between laboratory animal breeding and animal welfare advocacy.
Activists broke into the Wisconsin facility in March 2026 to facilitate the removal of the dogs [3]. Following the breach, the animals were placed with various rescue groups, including Until They're Home. Some of the dogs were distributed to specific regional shelters, including 25 beagles welcomed by PAWS Chicago [4].
In Colorado, 21 of the rescued beagles arrived in Fort Collins in early May 2026 [1, 2]. These dogs have since been placed into local homes as part of the broader effort to rehome the facility's population.
"Fifteen hundred of them got released recently, and we got 21 of them," Molly Obert said [1].
Despite the large-scale transfer, not all animals have left the site. Approximately 650 dogs remain at Ridgeland Farms [3]. Activists have continued to advocate for the release of the remaining animals, who were not part of the initial transfer, to ensure no dogs remain in the breeding facility.
The transition from a research-breeding environment to domestic homes requires significant coordination between activists and rescue organizations to manage the volume of animals [2].
“"Fifteen hundred of them got released recently, and we got 21 of them,"”
The removal of these animals signifies a direct action approach to animal rights, where activists bypass legal channels to disrupt the supply chain of research animals. The fact that hundreds of dogs remain at the facility suggests a continuing struggle between the breeding operation and rescue groups over the total evacuation of the site.
