1,500 Beagles Transferred from Ridglan Farms to Animal Shelters in Wisconsin

Pop star Debbie Gibson and Terry “Geezer” Butler of Black Sabbath visited the Dane County Humane Society in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 12, 2026, where they held beagles rescued from Ridglan Farms. ” Butler held beagles from Ridglan Farms at the shelter that same day. “They’ve never let me down.

They’re always loving,” Butler stated of his own dogs. As the pair and others spoke inside the humane society’s barn, beagles from Ridglan Farms sat in the arms of volunteers while awaiting veterinary health checks, vaccinations and other care. The Washington Times reported that the Center for a Humane Economy and Big Dog Ranch Rescue purchased roughly 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms for an undisclosed amount.

The deal was struck in April 2026. It was announced days after a violent clash between animal welfare advocates and police outside Ridglan Farms, during which police used tear gas and pepper spray on activists. Protesters broke into the Ridglan Farms facility in March 2026 and took 30 dogs.

Ridglan Farms agreed in October 2025 to give up its state breeding license as of July 1, 2026, as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges. The firm has denied mistreating animals, but a special prosecutor determined that Ridglan Farms was performing eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards.

The Dane County Humane Society is working to find new homes for 500 beagles.

More than 1,300 people have expressed interest in adopting the beagles to the Dane County Humane Society alone, according to Amy Good, the director of marketing for the Dane County Humane Society. ” The first 1,000 dogs were removed earlier in May 2026 and are in temporary shelters with agencies partnering with Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

The Dane County Humane Society began receiving the remaining 500 dogs during the week of May 10, 2026.