Ridglan farms: 1,500 Beagle dogs are about to be sent to new homes after being rescued from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding and research center in Wisconsin that has been operating for over 60 years.
According to Thai News Agency, the dog rescue organization Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the animal welfare agency Center for a Humane Economy have reached an agreement to purchase 1,500 dogs out of approximately 2,000 at the breeding center for an undisclosed amount, in order to find them new homes. Meanwhile, Ridglan Farm has agreed to relinquish its state dog breeding license by July 1st to avoid criminal prosecution for animal cruelty. This comes after a long period of intense scrutiny and allegations of animal cruelty, particularly reports of eye procedures that violated veterinary standards. This marks the end of one of the largest laboratory dog breeding facilities in the United States.
It was also reported that because these Beagles were bred specifically for laboratory research, they faced challenges in living a normal life. Most of the dogs lived in stacked metal cages in windowless buildings, never experiencing the outside world, never walking on grass, and not knowing how to wear a leash.
The first group of 300 dogs were moved out in early May. They underwent health checks, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and socialization training in preparation for adoption. To date, more than 700 people have applied for adoption. The dogs still waiting for homes will be distributed to network shelters across the United States, including in Florida, Alabama, and New York.