Animal Rights Lawyers Move for Court Order to Protect Hundreds of Beagles That Remain in Cruel Conditions; Ridglan Did Not Respond to No-Kill Requests
May 19, 2026, MADISON, WI – Last night, attorneys from the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) and the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project (AALDP) appealed the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to protect the remaining dogs at infamous beagle experimentation breeder Ridglan Farms. They also moved for an injunction prohibiting Ridglan from killing dogs for medically unnecessary reasons pending resolution of the appeal, after Ridglan did not respond to a request for confirmation it would not do so. Last month, Ridglan agreed to sell approximately 1,500 dogs to rescue organizations, but that deal did not include all of the dogs at the facility. Approximately 500 remain.
“All the remaining beagles have a right to be free from cruelty,” said Christopher Berry, executive director of the NhRP. “Until the Wisconsin Court of Appeals rules on this case, the Nonhuman Rights Project and the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project are simply asking Ridglan Farms not to kill these innocent animals.”
In January, the NhRP and AALDP filed a lawsuit arguing that the dogs have a legal right to be free from cruelty and asking the court to enforce that right via habeas corpus, a time-honored legal tool that protects against unlawful confinement. The trial court dismissed the habeas lawsuit and the animal rights attorneys are now appealing.
“Years of heroic efforts by activists and the hard work of rescue organizations have secured the freedom of 1,500 dogs—but hundreds remain in cruel conditions at Ridglan’s breeding facility, their fate unknown. They deserve to be protected just as much as those who have been released, and we will continue to fight for them,” said Chris Carraway, staff attorney at the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project.
Last fall, Ridglan Farms reached an agreement with a special prosecutor to resolve potentially hundreds of felony animal cruelty charges, agreeing to surrender its license to breed and sell dogs by July 1, 2026. However, the agreement does not require Ridglan to make any changes regarding the conditions of the dogs that remain at the puppy mill until then. Additionally, Ridglan has killed dogs in the past for non-medically necessary reasons. The company did not respond to requests that it confirm it will not kill dogs that remain at its breeding facility. The lawsuit argues that these violate those dogs’ right to be protected from cruelty under Wisconsin law.
“Last night’s filings do not free these beagles from the inhumane and cruel conditions they have encountered their entire lives, but it pleads their case and assures them an opportunity to have their case litigated without the possibility of mass euthanasia, an action that can only be described as unnecessary given the willingness of sanctuaries to care for and re-home the beagles,” said Kristin Schrank, Wisconsin attorney and animal advocate.
In March, activists—including Baywatch actress Alexandra Paul—openly rescued 22 beagles from Ridglan. In April, hundreds of activists made headlines with a viral attempt to rescue almost 2,000 dogs that remained at the facility, but were met with excessive force. The agreement to sell 1500 dogs to rescue organizations came just days after the April attempted rescue.
Read the opening brief and motion for injunctive relief, filed today.
The Nonhuman Rights Project is the only civil rights organization in the United States working through litigation, legislation, and education to secure fundamental rights for nonhuman animals. Learn more at www.nonhumanrights.org.
The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law works to empower and defend animal advocates through activist defense, affirmative litigation, and training law students to join and transform the field of Animal Law. Learn more at AALDP.com and follow us at @AALDP_DU on Twitter/X, Instagram, and @AALDP-DU on Bluesky.
Contacts:
Nonhuman Rights Project, Robert Conner, rconner@scottcircle.com
Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, press@aaldp.com