The final 155 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin facility that bred dogs for biomedical research, have been relocated to a Florida rescue, completing the release of more than 2,000 dogs from the facility this year, CBS News reported on Wednesday.
The dogs were transferred to Big Dog Ranch Rescue, marking the end of a months-long effort to relocate the animals as Ridglan faced scrutiny over its treatment of dogs.
Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection investigated Ridglan between 2024 and 2025 and identified 494 violations, according to CBS.
In January 2025, a judge found probable cause to believe that Ridglan had committed crimes under Wisconsin animal-cruelty laws and appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged violations.
Ridglan later reached a settlement to avoid criminal prosecution and agreed to surrender its state license to sell dogs. The company has denied violating state or federal animal-welfare laws and disputed allegations that it mistreated the animals.
However, US Department of Agriculture records reviewed by CBS showed that federal inspectors cited four violations at Ridglan's breeding facility and two at its research facility during inspections over the past decade. None were classified as critical.
Ridglan chose beagles to test on due to their forgiving temperament
Ridglan said it had a "well-documented history of exemplary animal care" and described the USDA as the "leading authority … that ensures animals involved in biomedical research are well cared for under strict federal guidelines." The company said federal inspectors had found only non-critical issues at its facilities.
The USDA told CBS that it works with state authorities "to maximize enforcement outcomes" and had taken "swift and meaningful steps to strengthen oversight," including implementing recommendations from the inspector general.
"They choose beagles because they're easy to handle and they're so forgiving. You hurt them one day, and they're going to forgive you the next and let you do it all over again. This is inhumane," Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons said, explaining that the breed’s temperament made it one of the best for research purposes.
"For me, it's never enough until animal cruelty ends," she added. "I'll do this till the day I die."
The arrival of the final 155 dogs brings the Ridglan relocation effort to an end, but the broader dispute over how research animals should be regulated, and how quickly science can move away from their use, remains unresolved.