A deal reached Monday permanently closes the Ridglan Farms animal-testing facility in Wisconsin to relocate hundreds of beagles to rescue homes [1, 2].
The closure marks a significant victory for animal-rights advocates seeking to end the breeding and use of beagles in research laboratories. By securing the permanent shutdown of the facility, the rescue organization ensures these animals will not be transferred to another testing site.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue arranged the agreement to end operations at the Ridglan Farms beagle breeding and research facility [1, 3]. The organization is now working to facilitate the relocation and adoption of the animals involved in the deal [1, 2].
Reports on the number of animals involved vary by source. The Sun Sentinel reported that 475 beagles will be freed from the lab [1]. Other reports described the total as nearly 500 dogs [4] or stated that more than 300 dogs were being moved [2].
The facility in Wisconsin had been used for breeding and research purposes before the agreement was reached on June 15, 2026 [1, 2]. The dogs are now being transitioned into the care of the rescue group to be placed in permanent homes [3].
This effort follows a pattern of increasing pressure on laboratory breeding facilities to transition toward more ethical research alternatives. The closure of Ridglan Farms removes a specific source of research animals from the U.S. supply chain, a move that aligns with broader goals to reduce animal testing in the science sector [1, 4].
“A deal was reached to permanently close the Ridglan Farms animal-testing facility”
The permanent closure of Ridglan Farms represents a shift in the operational landscape of animal research in the U.S. By moving from a breeding facility to a rescue-led relocation, the event highlights the growing influence of animal-rights organizations in dismantling traditional laboratory supply chains.
