Rescued beagles arrive at Big Dog Ranch Rescue for adoption
Updated
Updated · South Florida Sun Sentinel · May 3
Rescued beagles arrive at Big Dog Ranch Rescue for adoption
8 articles · Updated · South Florida Sun Sentinel · May 3
The 300 dogs reached the Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, sanctuary from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, after Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy agreed to buy 1,500 beagles.
The animals will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before adoption. Another 700 are expected at the ranch, while the center will place the remaining 500.
The transfer follows a judge's finding of probable cause of animal cruelty violations at Ridglan and activist protests. Wayne Pacelle called it one of the largest removals of dogs from the research supply system.
With its breeding license gone, what will become of the Ridglan Farms research facility and the dogs still inside?
As new technology replaces animal testing, are we on the verge of ending medical research on dogs for good?
Big Dog Ranch Rescue Welcomes First 200+ Beagles from Ridglan Farms in Largest U.S. Lab Dog Rescue
Overview
After years of activism starting with a 2017 break-in exposing poor conditions, legal action in 2025 forced Ridglan Farms to surrender its breeders' license by July 2026. Continued pressure from activist raids in early 2026 led animal advocacy groups to negotiate a purchase agreement to rescue nearly 1,500 beagles. The first group of over 200 dogs arrived at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida in May 2026, marking a major step toward ending Ridglan's operations. This rescue reflects a broader shift away from animal testing, supported by recent legislative reforms promoting non-animal research methods, and highlights the ongoing need for community support to rehabilitate these dogs.