Federal Class Action Filed after Animal Activists get Tear Gassed and Hit with Rubber Bullets

Federal class action filed against the Wisconsin beagle breeding facility, the Dane County sheriff and others as the state’s governor refuses to meet activists hit with tear gas and rubber bullets

Madison, Wisconsin, April 24th, 2026— The legal and political battle over the Ridglan Farms beagle breeding facility has reached a fever pitch. Civil rights and animal rights attorney Susan Chana Lask has filed a federal class action complaint following the violent events of Saturday, April 18th, 2026, even as Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has publicly refused to meet with the animal activists and Dane County’s sheriff issues a statement defending his use of force.

Complaint Alleges Use of “chemical agents, impact munitions, and manure-filled trenches”

The complaint arises from the dramatic events that occurred at Wisconsin’s Ridglan Farms on Saturday, April 18th as about 1,000 activists attempted to enter the facility to rescue approximately 2,000 caged beagles. Law enforcement responded with such force, firing copious amounts of tear gas and hitting some activists with rubber bullets, that many were injured. Some collapsed to the ground and others were treated at a makeshift triage center set up by the activists. The following Monday, more than 100 of the activists surged into the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison, holding a news conference where some displayed their injuries. They then marched to Governor Evers office to demand a meeting. Governor Evers has officially declined to meet with the activists.

Attorney Lask just announced that she has now filed a class action against Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, Ridglan, and numerous unnamed law enforcement and security personnel. Under Nature of the Action, the filed complaint alleges the following:

“Ridglan Farms’ business depends on the suffering of innocent beagles bred and sold for painful experiments, including injecting them with chemical toxins. It is therefore no surprise that Ridglan did not hesitate to inflict the same pain and suffering on peaceful rescuers…. choosing violence, contamination, and terror to protect its profits rooted in suffering.

“It is as disturbing that Dane County allows the animal abuse and assisted Ridglan with chemical and biological attacks on humans as well. This civil rights and tort class action arises from a planned campaign by Defendants of excessive force against nonviolent animal rescue demonstrators at Ridglan Farms in Dane County, Wisconsin, on April 18, 2026, including Defendants using chemical agents, impact munitions, and manure filled trenches to contaminate rescuers.”

The Dane County sheriff, one of the defendants in this action, issued a statement indicating that more than 17 first responder agencies from across the county and the state assisted Dane County sheriff’s deputies in the law enforcement response. The Dane County Sheriff’s office said there was an “ongoing investigation” and that “updates would be provided as it progresses.” The sheriff also appears to have provided a photo it says shows activists with “saws,” a “sledgehammer” and a “pry tool,” although its authenticity cannot be independently confirmed.

Governor Evers Claims “I Have No Authority”

The legal filing follows a tense Monday at the State Capitol, where activists demanded a meeting with Governor Tony Evers. Despite the presence of hundreds of protesters, the Governor refused to meet. “Action is needed right now, and we are begging Attorney General Josh Kaul, Governor Evers. We need your intervention; it’s time to break your silence on this issue,” said Aidan Kankyoku of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, to no avail.

Speaking Wednesday during an Earth Day event, Evers stated that while he “cares about the cause,” his hands are tied.

• The “No Authority” Stance: Evers claimed, “Frankly, I have no authority over what happens there.”
• Declining Dialogue: When asked about the multiple requests for a sit-down, Evers responded, “They’ve made themselves clear. I know where they’re at… I have no immediate plans to meet with them.”

Activists, including the leader of the “open rescue” movement Wayne Hsiung, have challenged this dismissal, arguing that as the state’s leader, Evers must define Wisconsin’s moral compass. “It’s up to Tony Evers to lead us down a better path,” Hsiung said. Hsiung was arrested at the very start of Saturday’s attempted mass beagle rescue, and held an impromptu press conference after his release on $20-thousand dollars bail, complaining that his bail was higher than others accused of far more serious crimes.

Ridglan Farms Response

Ridglan Farms denies the allegations of cruelty that have fueled recent protests and the massive rescue attempt, calling the activists extremists and stating:

“No credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”

The legal complaint filed by Lask counters with exhibits and by stating, “In January 9, 2025, Dane County Circuit Judge Lanford found probable cause on numerous misdemeanor and felony counts of animal cruelty against Ridglan involving mutilating dogs’ eyes and vocal cords without anesthesia, and keeping dogs in small confined spaces to the point they spin and have violent fights.”

Despite Ridglan’s denial of animal cruelty, the facility is currently operating under a settlement with the state. Under that agreement, Ridglan must relinquish its state breeding license by July 1, 2026, ending its dog sales and breeding-for-sale operations. However, the facility will still be permitted to breed dogs for its own internal research—a loophole activists are desperate to close.

Ridglan, or anyone else named in the lawsuit,  is invited on to respond further at any time.