Ridglan Farms

Wisconsin

Take Action

Call and email Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne asking him to prosecute Ridglan Farms for animal cruelty.

Ridglan Farms is one of the largest breeders of beagles for experimentation in the United States. In 2017, DxE investigators entered the facility and documented the filthy conditions and the psychological trauma of the dogs spinning endlessly inside small cages. The team rescued three beagles, Julie, Anna, and Lucy. Eva, Paul, and Wayne were charged with felony burglary and felony theft charges. Their trial was set to start in March 2024 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wisconsin. However, ten days before trial, the state DROPPED all the charges. We believe this dismissal was the result of pressure and press coverage that made it clear there is public support for animal rescue.

1/9/2025 Update: Judge Agrees to Appoint Special Prosecutor!

The Dane County District Attorney’s office is still failing to prosecute Ridglan Farms for criminal animal cruelty, but former defendant Wayne Hsiung and local groups Dane4Dogs and Alliance for Animals filed a petition with the Dane County Courthouse asking the court to appoint a special prosecutor to prosecute Ridglan. Dane County Judge Rhonda Lanford agreed to hold an evidentiary hearing, which took place on October 24, 2024. The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project represented Dane4Dogs. The court heard testimony from investigator Wayne Hsiung, veterinarians, and former Ridglan employees who testified about the company's routine abuse of dogs, including non-veterinarians conducting surgeries on dogs without anesthetics. After reviewing this evidence, Judge Lanford issued her ruling on January 9, 2025. She granted the petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute Ridglan Farms for animal cruelty! This decision marks a major victory in our fight to hold Ridglan Farms accountable. A special prosecutor will now be appointed to investigate the facility's widespread violations of animal welfare laws. And if we keep the pressure on, this could lead to shutting down operations at Ridglan Farms for good.

Meet the Defendants

Read the Press

Your support allows us to stand up to legal repression and continue our groundbreaking work.