About 1,500 beagles, which are commonly used in animal testing due to their relatively small size and calm temperament, are set to be rehomed after their release from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding and research facility in Wisconsin, The Associated Press reported.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy reached a confidential agreement to purchase the dogs for an undisclosed amount. The two organizations will split responsibility for the animals, with Big Dog Ranch Rescue working to place about 1,000 of them in homes across the U.S., while the remaining dogs will go to the Center for a Humane Economy.
According to Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons, the first dogs removed from the facility quickly began seeking human interaction. The initial group of 300 beagles was transferred on Friday, with additional removals planned over the following week. The dogs are currently being cared for at a staging site in Wisconsin, where they are receiving vaccinations, microchips and sterilization procedures before being transported to shelters and adoption centers.
The agreement follows months of negotiations that began prior to protests at the facility in mid-April. At the time, activists attempted to remove dogs from Ridglan Farms, leading to confrontations with law enforcement. Authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray, with 29 people arrested.
Ridglan Farms did not immediately comment on the transfer of the animals. The company has denied allegations of mistreatment but previously agreed to relinquish its state breeding license by July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution over felony animal mistreatment charges. A special prosecutor had found that certain procedures conducted at the facility violated state veterinary standards.
