It's been about a month since rescue organizations saved around 1,500 beagles from the Ridglan Farms breeding facility in Wisconsin. I've been keeping up with how their lives are going now, and I know some of you have too, so I thought I'd share some updates.
First, in case you missed it, these poor pups were being bred for "scientific research," and they lived miserable lives in deplorable conditions. Here's some background:
These dogs lived in cages and pens in windowless rooms at Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin-based research facility that breeds dogs for its own purposes and to sell to other facilities for experiments like toxicity testing and vaccine and drug development. It's the second-largest of its kind in the United States, and it's been in business for about six decades.
For years, animal welfare advocates accused Ridglan Farms of inhumane practices and mistreating the beagles it breeds. They claimed they lived in awful conditions with no exercise or socialization, and no access to the outdoors. I've read about accusations ranging from piles of waste everywhere to a strong scent of ammonia throughout the building to dogs forced to walk on floors essentially made of chicken wire. They even claimed that procedures, like cherry eye surgery, were performed on the dogs without veterinary oversight or pain relief.
Ridglan denied this, of course, but at some point, employees also began to speak out.
Eventually, a Dane County judge found probable cause for animal cruelty violations. Rather than go to trial, Ridglan Farms agreed to a settlement that would involve giving up its breeding license by July 2026 and following the conditions laid out by the court.
You can read more about the dogs' background here: Touching the Ground for the First Time.
Now, I just wanted to share with you some happy, positive news about the lives these dogs are living now. Many of them have since been adopted or are living in foster home and enjoying their lives for the first time. Grab your tissues, but I can promise you these will be happy tears.
Here's one little guy who is apparently meeting a cat friend for the first time, and he seems really excited about it.
Here are some little guys learning how to play with toys — you can see it took them some time to warm up to their new situation.
This little guy appears to really be thriving:
After seven years of no cuddles, this little lady is getting all the love she wants. Listen to her mom explain how she didn't know how to eat or drink properly.
This one starts out sad — this dog has shut down — but it has a happy ending, I promise!
This is the best — some of the beagles try peanut butter for the first time:
This is Delilah. She has found that she likes toys.
This is one I've been following pretty closely. It's taken this pup a while to warm up to her new surroundings, but she is getting there. I recommend checking out her "mom's" account for more updates.
One more thing I'd like to add: There were several big names involved with the rescue of these dogs, whether they gave money, used their voices and platforms, or physically showed up for the beagles, including Lara Trump (the president's daughter-in-law), actor and comedian Ricky Gervais, singer Debbie Gibson, actress Alexandra Paul, and Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler.
On Monday, Judge Jeanine Pirro, who was also quite supportive of the rescue efforts, posted a photo on social media featuring her dogs, but she noted that there were some new ones in the mix. Several X users spotted the two beagles immediately. While the judge hasn't confirmed that they are Ridglan rescues, it seems highly likely that they are. Assuming they are, good for her. Those dogs will live a charmed life.
This is a quiz, how many dogs are in the picture?
— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) June 1, 2026
And do you notice any new dogs? pic.twitter.com/JgUk4zcWbZ
