Wisconsin Beagle Breeding Facility Faces Protests Amid Activist Arrests

Sun Apr 19 2026 18:07:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A group of around 1,000 animal welfare activists clashed with police while attempting to breach a beagle breeding facility in Wisconsin.

On Saturday, approximately 1,000 animal welfare activists attempted to invade Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, prompting a police response that included rubber bullets and pepper spray. This marked the second such incident in two months, as protesters sought to free beagles from the facility. The Dane County Sheriff reported arrests and emphasized the violent nature of the demonstration, which left activists feeling defeated without a successful seizure of any dogs.

BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. (AP) — About 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to gain entry Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin, turning back police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.

This incident was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to seize beagles from Ridglan Farms, located about 25 miles southwest of Madison.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett stated in a video that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and physically assaulted officers, blocking roads and ignoring designated peaceful protest areas, a claim he firmly backed with security footage.

“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett asserted.

Although the sheriff’s department reported a “significant” number of arrests among the large crowd, the exact figures were still being processed as of the afternoon.

Protesters tried overcoming barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence. Some managed to breach the fence, but failed to enter the facility, where approximately 2,000 beagles reside.

Activist Julie Vrzeski expressed feelings of defeat, stating, “I just feel defeated,” realizing they had yet to successfully rescue a single dog.

On Sunday, the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had planned to return and continue their efforts but unexpectedly launched their operation a day early. Wayne Hsiung, the group's leader, posted a picture of himself being arrested.

In March, protesters had previously broken into the facility, taking 30 dogs and resulting in 27 arrests for trespass and other charges. Although Ridglan Farms denies allegations of mistreatment, they agreed to forfeit their state breeding license by a set date to avoid further prosecution.

According to the facility's website, they maintain that there has never been any credible evidence presented of animal abuse or mistreatment at Ridglan Farms.

With a history of similar tensions, activists remain adamant about their cause while authorities reiterate the importance of lawful protests.