Trending Now - Clashes Erupt as Activists Confront Beagle Lab in Wisconsin

WHO:

The Guardian - Wayne Hsiung posted a picture of himself being arrested at the scene on his X account.

ABC News - Activist Julie Vrzeski expressed feelings of defeat during the protest.

The Guardian - Wayne Hsiung posted a picture of himself being arrested at the scene on his X account.

The Guardian - About 1,000 animal rights activists were involved in the protest.

The Guardian - Wayne Hsiung is the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs.

ABC News - Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett provided statements regarding the protest.

ABC News - Activist Julie Vrzeski expressed feelings of defeat during the protest.

WHAT:

The Guardian - The Dane County sheriff's department reported that a "significant" number of protesters were arrested, but did not provide an exact total as they were still being processed on April 16th, 2026.

The Guardian - Activists attempted to breach the Ridglan Farms facility, resulting in police using rubber bullets and pepper spray.

ABC News - Police fired tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd of protesters.

ABC News - In March 2026, protesters broke into the facility and took 30 dogs, resulting in 27 arrests on charges of trespassing and other offenses.

ABC News - Ridglan Farms agreed in October 2025 to relinquish its state breeding license effective July 1st, 2026, as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

The Guardian - Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett stated that protesters had blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.

ABC News - The sheriff's department reported that a person who drove a pickup truck through the front gate of the property was arrested for nearly running over police officers and staff.

The Guardian - Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett stated that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers.

ABC News - Activists moved from the Ridglan facility to protest outside of the jail in downtown Madison later on April 16th, 2026.

AP News - The sheriff’s department reported that a person who “recklessly” drove a pickup truck through the front gate of the property was arrested, “preventing a potentially deadly outcome.”

ABC News - The group Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had publicized their plans to seize the dogs on Sunday, April 17th, 2026, but launched their operation a day earlier on April 16th, 2026.

The Guardian - Activists attempted to breach the Ridglan Farms facility, resulting in police using rubber bullets and pepper spray.

ABC News - Police fired tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd of protesters.

The Guardian - In a March raid, activists removed 13 dogs from the facility, leading to charges against 62 individuals for burglary and trespassing.

ABC News - In March, protesters broke into the facility and took 30 dogs, resulting in 27 arrests.

The Guardian - Ridglan Farms has denied allegations of animal mistreatment, stating no credible evidence has been presented.

WHERE:

The Guardian - The protest occurred at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, approximately 25 miles southwest of Madison.

ABC News - The protest also moved to outside of the jail in downtown Madison later on the same day.

WHEN:

ABC News - The operation by the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs was launched on Saturday, April 16th, 2026, a day earlier than publicized.

ABC News - The group Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had publicized their plans to seize the dogs on Sunday, April 17th, 2026, but launched their operation a day earlier on April 16th, 2026.

ABC News - The operation by the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs was launched on Saturday, April 16th, 2026, a day earlier than publicized.

ABC News - The group Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had publicized their plans to seize the dogs on Sunday, April 17th, 2026, but launched their operation a day earlier on April 16th, 2026.

The Guardian - The protest took place on Saturday, April 16th, 2026.

ABC News - The previous raid by activists occurred in March 2026.

ABC News - The facility agreed to give up its state breeding license as of July 1st, 2026.

WHY:

The Guardian - Activists framed their actions as mass beagle rescues, accusing Ridglan Farms of mistreating the dogs.

ABC News - The protests were motivated by allegations of animal mistreatment at the facility.

HOW:

AP News - Protesters attempted to breach barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence, with some getting through but failing to enter the facility.

The Guardian - Protesters attempted to breach barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence.

The Guardian - Protesters attempted to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept.

AP News - A person was arrested for "recklessly" driving a pickup truck through the front gate of the property, nearly hitting police officers and staff, which the sheriff's department stated "prevented a potentially deadly outcome."

The Guardian - Protesters attempted to overcome barricades, including a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence.

ABC News - A person was arrested for driving a pickup truck through the front gate of the property, nearly hitting police officers and staff.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 23:04 UTC)

on Thursday, the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs launched an operation to seize dogs from the Ridglan Farms facility a day earlier than planned, leading to a significant number of arrests as protesters attempted to breach barricades that included a manure-filled trench and barbed-wire fence. Police responded to the escalating situation by using rubber bullets, tear gas, and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, while activists like Wayne Hsiung and Julie Vrzeski expressed their experiences and feelings of defeat on social media. The Dane County sheriff's department has reported that arrests are still being processed, but did not provide an exact total at this time.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 15:06 UTC)

In March 20th26, protesters broke into Ridglan Farms, taking 30 dogs and leading to 27 arrests on charges of trespassing and other offenses. The facility had previously agreed in October 20th25 to relinquish its state breeding license effective July 1st, as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges. During the protest, demonstrators attempted to breach barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence, with some managing to get through but ultimately failing to enter the facility.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 13:15 UTC)

Wayne Hsiung shared a picture of his arrest on his X account during a protest aimed at rescuing beagles from Ridglan Farms, which activists accuse of mistreating the dogs. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett reported that protesters blocked roads, preventing emergency vehicles from accessing the area, and a person was arrested for driving a pickup truck through the property’s front gate, nearly hitting police officers. The operation by the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs began on Saturday, on Thursday, a day earlier than planned, and involved protesters attempting to breach barricades made of hay bales, a manure-filled trench, and a barbed-wire fence.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 07:17 UTC)

on Thursday, protesters from the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs attempted to break into a facility housing around 2,000 beagles, leading to violent clashes with law enforcement. Sheriff Kalvin Barrett reported that 300 to 400 protesters were trying to breach barricades, which included a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence, while one individual was arrested for recklessly driving a pickup truck through the front gate, preventing a potentially deadly situation. Following their initial attempt, the activists moved their protest to the jail in downtown Madison later that same day.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 05:41 UTC)

on Thursday, a significant number of protesters were arrested in Dane County as the sheriff's department processed them following an operation by the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, which began a day earlier than planned. The group had intended to seize the dogs on Friday but took action on Thursday instead. During the chaos, a person was arrested for recklessly driving a pickup truck through the front gate of the property, nearly striking police officers and staff, an incident the sheriff's department said prevented a potentially deadly outcome.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 04:03 UTC)

On Saturday, on Thursday, about 1,000 animal rights activists protested at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, attempting to breach the facility amid allegations of animal mistreatment. The demonstration escalated when police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd, following previous raids in March where activists removed dogs from the property, leading to multiple arrests. Activist Julie Vrzeski expressed feelings of defeat during the protest, while Ridglan Farms has denied any wrongdoing and is set to relinquish its state breeding license by July 1st.