Law Enforcement Uses Rubber Bullets, Pepper Spray at Wisconsin Beagle Facility Protest

On Saturday, law enforcement used rubber bullets and pepper spray to prevent a large group of animal rights activists from entering a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The incident resulted in multiple arrests, including the group's leader, but no dogs were removed from the property.

Incident Overview

On Saturday, approximately 1,000 animal rights activists attempted to enter the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. The Dane County Sheriff's Office reported that 300-400 protesters were attempting to enter the property.

Law enforcement personnel used rubber bullets and pepper spray to prevent entry and disperse the crowd.

A significant number of arrests were made, though an exact total was not provided by authorities as processing continued Saturday afternoon. The group's leader, Wayne Hsiung, was among those arrested. The sheriff's department also reported arresting a person who drove a pickup truck through the facility's front gate.

Protest Actions and Law Enforcement Response

Protesters attempted to overcome barricades that included a trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence. Some individuals breached the outer fence but did not enter the facility buildings. No dogs were removed from the facility during this incident.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett stated in a video that the event was "not a peaceful protest." He said protesters ignored designated protest areas and blocked roads. The sheriff's office reported that some protesters assaulted officers.

After the facility protest, some activists moved to protest outside the jail in downtown Madison.

Background and Previous Incidents

This was the latest in a series of attempts by activists to access the Ridglan Farms facility, which houses approximately 2,000 beagles for breeding and biomedical research.

• In March, activists entered the facility and removed dogs. Sources provide differing numbers, with one reporting 13 dogs removed and another reporting 30 dogs removed. That incident resulted in arrests, with the Dane County Sheriff's Office referring charges including burglary and trespassing against 62 people.
• The activist group, the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, had publicized plans for an action on Sunday but began operations on Saturday.
• In October, Ridglan Farms agreed to surrender its state breeding license by July 1 as part of an agreement to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges. The facility denies any mistreatment.

Conflicting Statements and Claims

Activists have described their actions as "mass beagle rescues" and have accused Ridglan Farms of mistreating dogs.

Ridglan Farms states on its website: "No credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated."

Activist Julie Vrzeski was quoted as saying, "I just feel defeated," approximately three hours into the operation.