More than 100 animal welfare activists gathered outside Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ Capitol office Monday morning, chanting “Free the dogs!” and demanding that state officials take action against Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility in rural Blue Mounds about 25 miles southwest of Madison. The Capitol protest followed a weekend clash at the facility Saturday in which an estimated 1,000 activists attempted to access the property, where approximately 2,000 beagles are housed.

The demonstrations raise questions about state regulatory authority over animal research facilities and whether federal grants flowing to organizations using animals from Ridglan should continue. The facility agreed in October to surrender its state breeding license effective July 1 after a special prosecutor found that employees performed eye procedures on dogs in violation of state veterinary standards.

Saturday’s Clash and Police Response

An estimated 1,000 animal welfare activists descended on Ridglan Farms on Saturday in an attempt to access the facility and free the beagles housed there. Police met the activists with tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. The Dane County Sheriff’s Department said 29 people were arrested.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett defended the response, saying officers were “outnumbered” with only 26 deployed. “We were outnumbered,” Barrett told The Associated Press.

The sheriff characterized the protesters as organized into three distinct groups: one willing to commit felony breaking and entering, another willing to be arrested for trespassing, and a third there to peacefully protest.

The sheriff’s department released video footage showing a truck driving through the facility’s gate, which Barrett said put officers and staff in danger. He said another video showed an activist taking a baton from an officer as protesters attempted to rush the gate.

Many of those who returned to the Capitol on Monday displayed bruises they said resulted from rubber bullets struck during Saturday’s confrontation.

The Facility and Settlement

Ridglan Farms has operated as a biomedical research facility for more than 60 years, according to its website. The facility said nearly all of its current research is aimed at improving veterinary medicine.

In October, Ridglan agreed to surrender its state breeding license effective July 1, 2026, as part of a settlement to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges. A special prosecutor determined that Ridglan was performing eye procedures on dogs that violated state veterinary standards.

Under the settlement, Ridglan will no longer be able to sell beagles to outside researchers starting July 1.

On Monday, Ridglan issued a statement denying mistreatment allegations. “Activists have spread false and highly misleading claims about our research and our deep commitment to animal welfare, fueling dangerous levels of anger and hatred,” the statement said. Ridglan added that staff members have been threatened and followed as they leave the facility.

Federal Scrutiny and State Officials’ Silence

Last week, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan questioned U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. during a House Appropriations Committee hearing about federal grants going to organizations that use beagles from Ridglan Farms.

Kennedy said he had a hard time believing what Pocan was telling him but that he would look into it.

Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul did not immediately return messages seeking comment. No one from their offices spoke directly to the protesters Monday.

Aidan Kankyoku, a co-leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs that organized Monday’s action, said activists wanted both officials to break their silence about the breeder. Kankyoku said activists also wanted Kaul to execute a search warrant on the facility to investigate allegations of ongoing animal cruelty.

Pocan called on state officials to work with Ridglan on a plan for releasing the dogs that would not overwhelm placement groups and prevent the beagles from being euthanized. Kankyoku said if Ridglan would release the dogs, homes and veterinary care could be found for them.

“We just want the dogs out,” Kankyoku said.

Prior Incident

In March, activists broke into the facility and took 30 dogs. Twenty-seven people were arrested on trespassing and other charges.