Ridglan Farms.
A puppy mill in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin that has bred beagles for laboratory experimentation for more than 60 years. It will close on July 1, 2026 — but the work isn't over.
According to state and federal inspections, Ridglan Farms keeps thousands of dogs in stacked cages in windowless sheds, with no outdoor access — they literally never leave their cages. These dogs are bred repeatedly, and their puppies are sold to labs across the country for experimentation.
The US Dept of Agriculture inspection reports 3,110 dogs at Ridglan Farms for breeding and 148 being experimented on, for a total of 3,258 dogs on site in Dec 2023. To put that in perspective, the Dane County Humane Society adopted out 1,241 dogs in 2023.
The enormous scale of this puppy mill is almost impossible to comprehend. And it's right in our backyard.
3,110 for breeding, 148 in experimentation. USDA inspection records.
The Dane County Humane Society's annual total — fewer than the dogs at one breeder.
After more than six decades, Ridglan Farms will finally stop.
Voluntarily relinquish your license to sell dogs by July 1, 2026 in order to avoid criminal prosecution.
District Attorney Tim Gruenke offered the settlement. Ridglan Farms agreed.
While this agreement is a BIG WIN, effectively forcing the closure of the second largest research puppy mill in the country, Ridglan Farms is allowed to sell off their remaining dogs prior to July 1, 2026. We remain concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the dogs still trapped at Ridglan Farms, and we will continue to advocate for their release.
The Nonhuman Rights Project is joining the Ridglan fight.
The NhRP, along with our attorney Kristin Schrank and the attorneys at the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, are representing the dogs at Ridglan in a groundbreaking lawsuit asking the court to enforce the dogs' legal right to be free from cruelty. Wisconsin's animal cruelty statute creates a legally protected interest for animals to be free from cruelty and we are asking the courts to enforce that protection.
Three separate investigations.
Ridglan Farms recently faced three separate investigations into different aspects of their operations. Two of the investigations have concluded with the agreement that Ridglan Farms will no longer sell dogs after July 1, 2026. The Veterinary Examining Board investigation(s) remain open.
A wild idea: ask the court to appoint a Special Prosecutor.
In March 2024, animal activist and lawyer Wayne Hsiung approached Dane4Dogs with a wild idea — let's ask the court to appoint a Special Prosecutor to prosecute Ridglan Farms for animal cruelty. After all, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne had failed to prosecute, despite having been provided overwhelming evidence of animal cruelty over the course of many years.
We decided to partner with another local activist organization, Alliance for Animals, and the Colorado-based Animal Activist Legal Defense Project. Our coalition submitted a petition to the court, and Dane County Judge Rhonda Lanford agreed to hear our evidence.
In a six-hour hearing on Oct 23, 2024, witnesses testified to the animal cruelty that was routinely happening at Ridglan Farms. Two former employees bravely took the stand and recounted their observations and experiences. Wayne Hsiung testified to what he saw when he rescued three dogs from Ridglan in 2017. Expert witnesses testified about proper veterinary practices and the consequences of failing to provide adequate care to the dogs.
And in January 2025, Judge Lanford approved our petition for a Special Prosecutor in a strongly worded 23 page decision. Shortly thereafter, she appointed LaCrosse District Attorney Tim Gruenke to investigate and decide whether to bring charges against Ridglan Farms.
On Oct 28, 2025, DA Tim Gruenke announced that he had reached an agreement with Ridglan Farms that would require them to voluntarily stop selling dogs by July 1, 2026 in exchange for avoiding prosecution for criminal animal cruelty.
After more than 60 years of breeding beagles for experimentation, Ridglan Farms will finally stop.
A complaint to the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board.
In December 2024, Dane4Dogs, in collaboration with the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, Alliance for Animals, and Wayne Hsiung, submitted a complaint about the veterinarians at Ridglan Farms to the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board. This complaint was based on the testimony of former employees and expert witnesses from the Oct 2024 hearing.
- February 5, 2025
Unannounced inspection
A DATCP Investigator assigned to work with the VEB conducted an unannounced inspection of Ridglan Farms and spoke with 9 current employees.
- February 19, 2025
Screening Committee opened the complaint
The VEB Screening Committee opened the complaint for further investigation and added a third Ridglan Farms veterinarian (owner) to the investigation.
- March 5, 2025
Disciplinary Council requested Summary Suspension
The Veterinary Examining Board Interim Disciplinary Council requested a Summary Suspension of the veterinary license of the primary Ridglan Farms veterinarian "immediately and without hearing."
- March 11, 2025
Board rejected suspension
At a public hearing, the VEB rejected the request and instead approved a Stipulated Agreement that will be in effect for the primary Ridglan Farms veterinarian while the investigation continues.
- April 22, 2025
Vet tech case opened
The VEB Screening Committee opened a case on a former Ridglan Farms vet tech, and referred three unlicensed employees to DATCP to follow up.
- June 17, 2025
Fourth unlicensed employee referred
- September 30, 2025
Lead veterinarian's license suspended
The VEB voted unanimously to suspend the license of Ridglan's lead veterinarian, Rick Van Domelen.
All cases remain open and ongoing to the best of our knowledge.
311 counts of violating Wisconsin statutes.
In early September 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) released a draft, unsigned civil forfeiture stipulation regarding Ridglan Farms. It details 311 counts of violating Wisconsin statutes:
On and between February 7, 2022 and February 22, 2025, Defendant failed to handle a dog as carefully as practicable and in a humane manner that does not cause physical harm or unnecessary injury.
On June 6, 2024, Defendant failed to provide a daily body, mobility, and behavior check of a dog.
On September 16, 2024, Defendant failed to provide a daily body, mobility, and behavior check of two dogs.
The proposed $55,148.50 fine, for a multi-million dollar corporation like Ridglan Farms, is a slap on the wrist. However, Ridglan Farms would have to sign this agreement, effectively admitting to all counts, and that would likely have a pretty serious negative effect on their reputation with their buyers.
On September 22, 2025, DATCP and Ridglan Farms met to discuss the draft civil forfeiture stipulation. According to Fox News, Ridglan and DATCP did not come to an agreement. DATCP referred the charges to the Dane County District Attorney and he handed off responsibility for these charges to La Crosse District Attorney Tim Gruenke. DA Gruenke included these charges as part of his agreement with Ridglan Farms to stop selling dogs; there was no separate punishment or accountability.
The ammonia / odor level in several locations was bad enough that I experienced nausea on one occasion, and my throat and nostrils were irritated for several hours after I left the facility.
Low spots where waste accumulates and becomes stagnant were consistent in the catch pans beneath the second-level enclosures where adult dogs were kept.
Help us bring every dog out alive.
Ridglan can sell remaining dogs until July 1, 2026. Every dog inside still needs to make it out. Your support keeps the pressure on.