Beagles bred for research get new life amid questions over federal oversight
The USDA's own inspector general has repeatedly raised concerns about federal oversight of dog breeders.
More than 2,000 beagles bred for biomedical research at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin are finding new homes after being relocated to Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida. This marks the end of a year-long effort to remove all the dogs from the facility. Despite a push to decrease animal testing, more than 37,000 dogs were used in U.S. research last year, according to USDA records.
Ridglan Farms, which bred dogs for research, faced numerous violations from both state and federal authorities. Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection found 494 violations between 2024 and 2025, while a judge appointed a special prosecutor to investigate possible animal cruelty crimes. The facility reached a settlement to avoid criminal prosecution and surrendered its state license to sell dogs.
Federal inspections at Ridglan found only minor issues over the past decade. However, Rep. Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, expressed concern over the significant number of state violations. Ridglan denies any wrongdoing, stating they have a "well-documented history of exemplary animal care" and relying on federal guidelines. The USDA's inspector general has raised concerns about the federal oversight of dog breeders for decades, citing inconsistent and untimely inspections as potential contributors to the facility's violations.
The final 155 dogs were released to Big Dog Ranch Rescue, with the rescue organization and its founder, Lauree Simmons, negotiating the release of over 2,000 beagles from Ridglan. Simmons emphasized the inhumane treatment of animals and vowed to continue fighting against animal cruelty until it ends.
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