Ridglan Farms, one of two remaining US breeders of beagles for research (and the country’s second largest dog breeder overall), faces grave allegations of animal cruelty following release of footage taken by activists who broke into its Wisconsin facility, as well as corroborating eyewitness accounts from employee whistleblowers. Allegations range from neglect, failure to provide proper shelter, and performance of surgeries without anesthesia or pain relief.
In January, a circuit court found “probable cause to believe that Ridglan has committed crimes under Wisconsin’s animal cruelty laws” and ordered the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate. Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, accompanied by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, then conducted a surprise inspection and reportedly heard more first-hand employee accounts of unlawful and inhumane surgical procedures. Wisconsin’s Veterinary Examining Board also placed restrictions on surgical procedures conducted at the facility while investigations continue.
Ridglan Farms, unfortunately, is hardly an isolated case. A USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit in February found that 80 percent of commercial dog breeders (for both the research and pet industries) visited by USDA personnel had outstanding Animal Welfare Act (AWA) noncompliances, examples of which include “excessive feces and flies,” “no water provided,” “matted hair,” “contaminated dog food,” and “untreated active eye problem[s].” The OIG report emphasized that such continued noncompliance “poses a threat to the safety and well-being of the animals.” Such findings underscore the need for stronger animal protection regulations, more thorough inspections and investigations, and zealous enforcement of existing laws by both state and federal oversight bodies.