Animal welfare protesters converge on Wisconsin governor's office
seeking release of beagles
[April 21, 2026]
By SCOTT BAUER
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Animal welfare activists converged outside of
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' Capitol office on Monday, chanting “Free the
dogs!” and demanding that the governor and attorney general do what they
can to shut down a beagle breeding and research facility where many of
the protesters clashed with police two days earlier.
An estimated 1,000 activists from around the country came to Ridglan
Farms in rural Blue Mounds in an attempt Saturday to free an estimated
2,000 beagles kept there about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest
of the capital, Madison. They were met by police who repelled them with
tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray. The Dane County Sheriff's
Department said 29 people were arrested.
More than 100 protesters were met outside of the Capitol hallway that
leads to the offices of Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul by police
officers who handed out constituent contact forms for Wisconsin
residents to complete.
Evers and Kaul did not immediately return messages seeking comment. No
one from their offices spoke directly to the protesters, some of whom
carried pictures of Evers, Kaul and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin interacting
with dogs.
Aidan Kankyoku, a co-leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs
that organized the effort, said they were hoping that both Evers and
Kaul would break their silence about the dog breeder. Kankyoku said
activists also wanted Kaul to execute a search warrant on the facility
to investigate allegations of ongoing animal cruelty.
Ridglan has denied mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up
its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid
prosecution on animal mistreatment charges. A special prosecutor
determined that Ridglan was performing eye procedures on the dogs that
violated state veterinary standards.
Under that settlement, Ridglan will no longer be able to sell beagles to
outside researchers starting July 1.
Ridglan says it has served as a biomedical research facility “that
supports health studies benefitting both humans and animals” for more
than 60 years. Nearly all of its current research is aimed at improving
veterinary medicine, according to its website.
Ridglan said in a statement Monday that activists “have spread false and
highly misleading claims about our research and our deep commitment to
animal welfare, fueling dangerous levels of anger and hatred.” Ridglan
said staff members have been threatened and followed as they leave the
facility.
Many of those who were at the facility on Saturday returned to the
Capitol on Monday to decry law enforcement’s reaction. Some of them
showed off bruises they said were caused by rubber bullets.
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Rebekah Robinson, the president of Dane4Dogs, center left, speaks at
a protest at the Wisconsin State Capitol demanding that the governor
and attorney general do what they can to shut down a beagle breeding
and research facility, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP
Photo/Scott Bauer)
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett defended the actions of his
officers, telling The Associated Press on Monday that their response
was “appropriate and decisive” to the risk posed by between 300 and
400 protesters who attempted to break into the facility.
“We were outnumbered,” Barrett said of the 26 officers on scene.
The activists were organized into three groups, with one willing to
commit felony breaking and entering, another willing to be arrested
for trespassing, while others were there to peacefully protest, the
sheriff said.
The sheriff's department released a video that showed a truck
driving through Ridglan's gate, which Barrett said put officers and
Ridglan staff who were in its path at risk. Barrett said another
video released Monday showed an activist taking a baton away from an
officer as protesters tried to rush the gate to the facility.
Protesters previously broke into the facility in March and took 30
dogs. Twenty-seven people were arrested on trespassing and other
charges.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan last week questioned U.S. Health and
Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. during a House
Appropriations Committee hearing about federal grants going to
organizations that use beagles from Ridglan Farms.
Kennedy said he had a hard time believing what Pocan was telling him
but that he would look into it.
Pocan on Sunday called on state officials to work with Ridglan on a
plan for releasing the dogs that won't overwhelm placement groups
and prevent the beagles from being euthanized.
Kankyoku said if Ridglan would release the dogs, homes and
veterinary care could be found for them.
“We just want the dogs out,” he said.
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