Trending Now - 1,500 Beagles Find Forever Homes After Rescue From Lab

WHO:

AP News - Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, stated, “They started within an hour or so coming up to us, wanting attention. Some crawled in people’s laps. Every single one of them are super sweet.”

Fox News - Rep. Nicholas Langworthy, R-N.Y., urged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya to cut off federal funding for research involving dogs sourced from Ridglan Farms.

ABC News - 1,500 beagles being removed from a Wisconsin dog breeding and research business.

AP News - Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Fox News - Ridglan Farms, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Center for a Humane Economy, and approximately 1,000 activists.

WHAT:

AP News - The first 300 dogs were taken from Ridglan Farms on a Friday, with more scheduled for removal over the next week.

Fox News - Hundreds more dogs are expected to leave over at least the next 10 days.

AP News - Big Dog Ranch Rescue is working with partners all over the country to find homes for 1,000 of the dogs, while the Center for a Humane Economy is taking the rest.

AP News - Big Dog Ranch Rescue has received over 700 adoption applications for the beagles.

Fox News - The transfer of the beagles marks a major turn in a years-long fight over Ridglan Farms, which has bred beagles for scientific research for more than 60 years.

ABC News - The first of 1,500 beagles are adjusting to new lives as they are moved to shelters for adoption.

AP News - Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy negotiated a confidential agreement to purchase 1,500 dogs from Ridglan Farms.

AP News - The first 300 dogs were taken from Ridglan on a Friday, with more scheduled for removal over the next week.

Fox News - The first van loads of beagles left Ridglan Farms on a Friday, beginning the transfer of approximately 1,500 dogs.

Fox News - The dogs are expected to receive medical exams, microchips, and vaccinations before being evaluated for adoption.

WHERE:

AP News - Ridglan Farms, located in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, about 25 miles southwest of Madison.

Fox News - The dogs are being moved to shelters across the country, with some already transported to Big Dog Ranch Rescue in western Palm Beach County, Florida.

WHEN:

AP News - Ridglan Farms agreed to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution.

Fox News - Hundreds more dogs are expected to leave over at least the next 10 days.

WHY:

Fox News - Activists have filed a federal lawsuit in Wisconsin alleging that police used unnecessary force during the protests at Ridglan Farms.

AP News - The removal follows protests against Ridglan Farms, where police used tear gas and pepper spray to repel activists.

Fox News - Activists have long accused Ridglan Farms of mistreating dogs and pushing them into painful experimentation.

HOW:

AP News - The animal groups have set up a staging area with play yards in Wisconsin for the dogs being vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and prepared for transport.

AP News - The dogs are being vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and prepared for transport.

Fox News - The dogs were screened by veterinarians and given Benadryl to guard against reactions before being transported.

(UPDATED May 4, 2026 07:49 UTC)

A significant rescue operation is underway as the first 300 dogs have been taken from Ridglan Farms, with hundreds more expected to be removed over the next ten days. Big Dog Ranch Rescue is collaborating with partners across the country to find homes for 1,000 of these dogs, and they have already received over 700 adoption applications for the beagles. Meanwhile, activists have filed a federal lawsuit in Wisconsin, claiming that police used unnecessary force during the protests at Ridglan Farms, while animal groups are preparing the dogs for transport by setting up a staging area for vaccinations and other medical care.

(UPDATED May 4, 2026 05:56 UTC)

Big Dog Ranch Rescue has received over 700 adoption applications for the beagles recently transferred from Ridglan Farms, which has been breeding dogs for scientific research for over 60 years. Lauree Simmons, the president and founder of the rescue, shared that the beagles quickly sought attention from people, with many even crawling into laps, describing them as "super sweet." Meanwhile, Rep. Nicholas Langworthy is calling on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to cut federal funding for research involving dogs sourced from Ridglan Farms, amid ongoing protests and a federal lawsuit alleging police used unnecessary force during these demonstrations.

(UPDATED May 4, 2026 01:26 UTC)

In a significant development, approximately 1,500 beagles are being removed from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding and research business in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, following a confidential agreement between Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy. The first 300 dogs have already begun their journey to shelters across the country, with some already arriving at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida, where they will receive medical exams and vaccinations before being evaluated for adoption. This action comes after protests against Ridglan Farms, where activists have accused the facility of mistreating dogs and subjecting them to painful experimentation, leading to an agreement that will see the farm relinquish its state breeding license by July 1.