Justice for Beagles as Judge Approves Special Prosecutor

A huge victory for animal activists seeking justice for beagles as a judge approves a special prosecutor to investigate a controversial beagle breeding facility in Wisconsin that activists say engages in horrific cruelty.

January 9th, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA. – A big win for the animal rights activists who say they’re fighting for approximately 3,000 beagles trapped in a controversial breeding facility near Madison, Wisconsin. After a series of contentious court hearings, Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford has issued a ruling that sides with the animal rights activists who’ve been demanding authorities investigate their allegations that dogs are being subjected to extreme cruelty inside the facility, something the company denies.

In her ruling, approving a special prosecutor, the judge declared, “The Court finds probable cause exists that Ridglan Farms, Inc. has committed multiple criminal violations of Wis. Stat. 951, and the Court also finds the Dane County District Attorney has refused to issue a complaint related to these allegations.”

Shocking Testimony Claiming Surgery on Beagles Without Anesthesia

The judge’s order follows an October, 2024 hearing that included shocking testimony from two former employees of the facility where the beagles are kept in tiny cages.  They both testified that they witnessed dogs routinely operated on by non-veterinary staff without anesthesia or post-surgery pain medications. One witness said, “Immediately afterwards, the dog would be thrashing around in pain, often yelping and crying out. And, then, we’d just put them back in the cage.”

WATCH THE CRUCIAL HEARING WHERE SHOCKING TESTIMONY TOOK PLACE! UNCHAINEDTV CARRIED THE HEARING LIVE!

In her ruling, the judge referred in detail to this testimony.

 

The Controversy Took Off After Wayne Hsiung led an Undercover Investigation into the Facility!

Those demanding a special prosecutor included a locally-based animal rights group called Dane4Dogs Ltd., the Alliance for Animals and famed animal rights attorney Wayne Hsiung. It was Hsiung who, back in 2017, led a Direct Action Everywhere undercover investigation into the facility that produced disturbing video. The activists also removed three beagles and placed them in good homes. But, those actions got Hsiung arrested and charged with two felonies that could have landed him in prison for 16 years.

When those charges were suddenly dropped just before the trial was set to begin in the Spring of 2024, Hsiung – instead of being elated – expressed disappointment that the beagles would not have their day in court. So, he turned around and mobilized a team of activists, along with attorneys, to march back into Wisconsin courts to demand a special prosecutor be appointed.

Wayne Hsiung Demands A Special Prosecutor After Felonies Against Him Dropped!

Joyous Reaction from Legal Teams Representing Animal Activists

Animal activists were thrilled over the judge’s ruling, calling it a vindication of their efforts to get accountability. “When you cage thousands of dogs in a warehouse, never let them outside, and provide them essentially no social interaction, all in order to sell them to animal experimenters for profit, cruelty is baked into the business model,” said Steffen Seitz, a litigation fellow with the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. “Dogs should be home with family, not locked in cages or treated like test tubes.”

Beagles: favored breed for research due to their docile and trusting nature

These plaintiffs say they went to court pleading with the judge to appoint a special prosecutor because the local district attorney repeatedly refused to take action.  And, Judge Lanford’s ruling noted the testimony from Hsiung that “he has contacted the Dane County District Attorney’s office and provided video and documentary evidence of the conditions at Ridglan at least seven separate times.”

The district attorney has responded that he has gotten no criminal complaints from law enforcement about this facility, saying “I have consistently referred these individuals to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.”

Anyone connected to the breeding facility or the DA’s office is invited on to respond further.