Hundreds trying to storm Wisconsin beagle research facility met with rubber bullets, pepper spray
Hundreds trying to storm Wisconsin beagle research facility met with rubber bullets, pepper spray
On Saturday, approximately 1,000 animal welfare advocates attempted to breach the beagle research facility in Wisconsin, facing police resistance with rubber bullets and pepper spray. The group’s leader was among those detained during the incident, which marked the second consecutive month of efforts to seize dogs from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds. This small town lies roughly 25 miles southwest of Madison, the state capital.
Law enforcement officials described the demonstrators as “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. The sheriff, Kalvin Barrett, highlighted that protesters had disregarded designated protest zones and obstructed roads to hinder emergency vehicles. “This is not a peaceful protest,” he stated in a video message.
“I just feel defeated,” said activist Julie Vrzeski after three hours of the operation, as no dogs had been successfully captured. Her remarks appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal following the event.
The Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, which had planned Sunday’s action, initiated its campaign a day earlier. The group’s leader, Wayne Hsiung, shared a photo of his arrest on social media. Meanwhile, police cited a driver who “recklessly” navigated through the front gate, preventing a potentially dangerous situation.
Previously, in March, demonstrators had entered the facility and taken 30 dogs, resulting in 27 arrests for trespassing and related offenses. Ridglan Farms has consistently denied allegations of animal abuse but agreed in October to surrender its state breeding license by July 1 as part of a settlement to avoid criminal charges. The facility’s website maintains that “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect” has ever been documented.
