Wisconsin beagle research facility that drew protests is closing as rescue group takes in dogs

A Wisconsin beagle breeding and research facility that's been the site of recent violent protests is closing, and its remaining dogs are being taken in by a Florida rescue group. Some dogs rescued from the facility had recently been taken to the Bay Area.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue announced Monday that it has reached an agreement for the permanent closure of Ridglan Farms and the transfer of its 475 remaining beagles starting this week.

"Not one dog will remain," Lauree Simmons, the group's founder, said in a news conference at a farm in Wisconsin. "No more breeding, no more testing, no more anything."

RELATED: Busload of rescued beagles arrive in Bay Area from Wisconsin research laboratory

Yearslong opposition to the facility came to head in April when a large group of animal welfare activists stormed the property in an attempt to take away beagles, prompting police to use tear gas and pepper spray as they made dozens of arrests.

Some protesters were also arrested in March after they broke in and took 30 dogs from the facility, which is located in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue said some of the beagles will go to rescue groups while others will be sent to its Florida and Alabama campuses where they will be spayed, neutered, and prepared for adoption.

The group bought roughly 1,500 of the facility's more than 2,000 beagles in April for an undisclosed price.

In May, a busload of beagles rescued from the Wisconsin research facility arrived in the Bay Area after a roughly 2,000-mile trip. Rescue groups said the animals were now experiencing basic comforts many had never had, from walking on grass to drinking from bowls.

RELATED: Beagles rescued from research lab finding forever homes in Bay Area

This week, about 200 dogs were being transferred Monday, according to Simmons. Another 125 will be moved Tuesday. The transfer of the remaining beagles will happen in August, as they are still puppies.

Simmons called on protesters to refrain from further demonstrations as it says Ridglan Farms has committed to permanently closing its dog breeding, sales, research and testing operations.

"Our focus now should be on supporting these dogs as they transition into their new lives," Simmons said. "These dogs will get to experience safety and a normal life for the first time."

Simmons said her group is also "working closely" with the Trump administration to stop funding studies that subject dogs to "invasive and painful experimentation."

Trump's Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., called Monday's deal a "major win for animal welfare" in a post on X.

RELATED | 1,500 beagles will get new lives, warm laps after release from research facility

Ridglan Farms, in a statement, said all the dogs being transferred are "happy, healthy animals" with "extensive" state and federal inspection documentation.

"We hope these dogs will continue to flourish in their new homes," the company said, adding that it hopes that the "years-long harassment campaign targeting the research facility's owners, staff and neighbors comes to an end."

Animal activists for years had sought to have dogs at the facility adopted, not sold to other research facilities.

Beagles are the most common breed of dog used for animal testing, primarily because of their smaller size and gentle temperament, according to Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Ridglan Farms agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges.

The firm has denied mistreating animals, but a special prosecutor determined that Ridglan Farms was performing eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards.

ABC7 Eyewitness News contributed to this story.