Ridglan to Relinquish State Breeding License

Ridglan Farms—one of two remaining US breeders of beagles for research—will cease its large-scale breeding-for-sale operations by July 2026, following grave allegations of animal neglect and cruelty (see AWI Quarterly, fall 2025). Ridglan entered into an agreement with the State of Wisconsin to relinquish its state breeding license in order to avoid criminal charges.

Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) offered to settle more than 300 alleged violations against Ridglan upon payment of a $55,000 fine. When Ridglan refused, the DATCP referred the case to the county’s district attorney for potential prosecution. The DATCP’s Veterinary Examining Board also suspended the license of Ridglan’s lead veterinarian and rescinded an exception that had allowed Ridglan to sell puppies under the minimum age set by state law. In late October, the Dane County Board of Supervisors voted 30-5 to call on the DATCP to revoke Ridglan’s commercial breeder license and remove the dogs while investigations continued.

The DATCP has documented hundreds of state law violations at Ridglan in recent years—instances of neglect and mistreatment that, for the most part, have gone undocumented on inspection reports from the US Department of Agriculture, the entity charged with enforcing the federal Animal Welfare Act. Indeed, over the past 12 years, the USDA documented only two noncritical noncompliances at Ridglan’s breeding facility. The USDA’s apparent failure to effectively oversee and enforce animal welfare compliance at Ridglan Farms made it that much more critical for state and local officials to step in and address the allegations of neglect and cruelty.

As of May 2025, the breeding facility held more than 2,500 dogs, including 575 puppies. Unfortunately, until next July, Ridglan will be allowed to continue its breeding-for-sale operations. Furthermore, even after relinquishing its breeding license, Ridglan will be allowed to continue operating a research facility that currently holds approximately 250 dogs.

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