Feds to shutter research facility, cue mass beagle adoptions

A controversial beagle breeder and research facility in Wisconsin will soon shut down, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday. Ridglan Farms in Mt. Horeb, Wis., will transfer its remaining 475 beagles to a no-kill, cage-free dog rescue shelter, Kennedy said in his video announcement. There, the dogs can begin the path to adoption. If Ridglan Farms fails to fully shut down by July 1, the United States Department of Agriculture will take action against the facility, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said. She emphasized that animal welfare and accountability matter.

Ridglan Farms’ website describes itself as a biomedical research facility for health studies to benefit both humans and animals, with an emphasis on veterinary science.

Why did the dogs need to be rescued? Animal advocates have accused Ridglan Farms of animal cruelty for years. In April, a large group of activists stormed the facility’s property in an attempt to free the beagles. Police used tear gas and pepper spray as they arrested dozens of protesters. Soon after, Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida purchased 1,500 dogs from Ridglan Farms for an undisclosed price.

Ridglan Farms said the April 18 incident followed “months of harassment of our employees and customers,” including threats repeated by phone and email.

What’s next? Big Dog Ranch Rescue will now take in the remaining 475 beagles, said rescue CEO Lauree Simmons. She called Ridglan Farms’ impending closure a historic victory. Beagles are the most commonly used breed for animal testing because of their smaller size and gentle temperament, according to the Beagle Freedom Project.

Is the government moving away from animal testing? Kennedy said the National Institutes of Health will launch a new office, ORIVA, that will focus on transitioning away from animal testing. In December 2025, Kennedy said he was working across the government to end federally funded animal testing.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on Kennedy’s testimony on animal testing, vaccines, and other topics last fall at a Senate hearing.