Latest news with #RidglanFarms
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ridglan Farms sues; accuses nonprofit of trying to destroy business
The Brief Ridglan Farms is suing Dane4Dogs and its co-founders, alleging the nonprofit is trying to destroy its business. The lawsuit claims the activist group's actions go beyond protest, citing complaints filed with state and federal agencies and a letter to Ridglan Farms' customers. The lawsuit accuses a former employee of lying about surgeries performed at Ridglan Farms without anesthesia, though Ridglan's lead veterinarian is under investigation for allowing non-veterinarians to perform them. MADISON, Wis. - A Wisconsin company that sells beagle puppies for scientific experiments is fighting back against animal rights activists. Ridglan Farms filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court accusing Dane4Dogs and its co-founders of engaging in a campaign to "destroy Ridglan Farms' business." What we know The lawsuit cites a series of complaints Dane4Dogs has filed with state and federal agencies, accusing Ridglan of animal cruelty and mistreatment of animals. It also points to a letter the nonprofit activist group sent to some of the companies that purchase dogs from Ridglan Farms. The letter dated January 27, 2025, is addressed "To Whom It May Concern" and informs the recipient that Ridglan Farms "is under criminal investigation for animal cruelty." The letter goes on to say that Dane4Dogs "will be publishing a list of Ridglan Farms buyers" and that the recipient can be removed from that list by sending an "official statement of ending your relationship" with the dog breeder. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or AndroidThe lawsuit alleges that the letter amounts to "extortion." What they're saying Rebekah Robinsin, co-founder of Dane4Dogs declined FOX6 Investigators' request for an interview. Instead, she referred us to speak with Steffan Seitz, an attorney for the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, which represented Dane4Dogs in another case against Ridglan Farms. "I think the intent, transparently, is just to scare activists," said Seitz, who defended the letter to customers. "The fact that you are asking customers to do the right thing is absolutely protected by the 1st amendment." Seitz said Dane4Dogs was simply engaging in "civic protest" and doing "good journalism" by contacting customers to ensure they were still actively purchasing dogs from Ridglan Farms before publishing their names on a list. The other side The lawsuit also accuses Dane4Dogs of "encouraging" individuals to apply for jobs at Ridglan Farms to get an "inside perspective." One such employee, it says, was Scott Gilbertson who worked for Ridglan Farms for about a month in 2022. Last fall, Gilbertson testified against Ridglan Farms in a public hearing in which Dane4Dogs was seeking to have a Special Prosecutor appointed to consider criminal charges against the breeder. Ridglan says Gilbertson gave "false testimony" about eye surgeries he witnessed that the company says he would not have been part of if he only worked there for such a short time. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The so-called "cherry eye" surgeries are the subject of a pending disciplinary case against Dr. Richard Van Domelen, Ridglan's lead veterinarian. Six current and two former employees, including Gilbertson, told state investigators they assisted in the medical procedures that were performed by non-veterinarians. The case before the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board calls such delegation a "violation" of state veterinary practice, but the board has yet to make a determination. Ridglan says those non-veterinarians were "trained" by licensed vets who are allowed to "delegate" certain "minor procedures" to non-vets, because they are a licensed research facility. Ridglan argues that federal law allows research facilities to decide if delegating minor procedures is acceptable. Ridglan also points to a January 2025 USDA inspection which found "no evidence" of any violations related to cherry eye surgeries. The Source For this story, FOX6 Investigators relied on a 14-page civil complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court, Case Number 2025CV1157, disciplinary records from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, a letter from Dane4Dogs to Ridglan customers (provided to FOX6 by Ridglan's attorney), along with email communications and interviews with representatives of both Ridglan Farms and Dane4Dogs.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Buyers list leaked; Wisconsin puppy mill customer defends research
The Brief A whistle-blower with access to an internal Ridglan Farms database has given FOX6 Investigators a list of customers who bought beagle puppies in 2019 and 2020. FOX6 Investigators are releasing the names of the ten largest customers (by number of dogs purchased). The founder of East Tennessee Clinical Research calls himself a "loyal" Ridglan Farms customer and defends the embattled breeder's practice of performing "cherry eye" surgeries on dogs with little or no anesthetic. BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. - Every year, Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin sells more than 3,000 beagle puppies bred for scientific research. Now, we know who is buying them. What we know An anonymous source provided FOX6 Investigators with a complete list of customers who purchased beagle puppies in 2019 and 2020. The purchases are perfectly legal, but public scrutiny of what happens to the dogs at Ridglan Farms has increased since a Dane County judge appointed a special prosecutor earlier this year to investigate animal cruelty charges. Former employees testified last fall that dogs are kept in cages 24 hours a day with minimal human contact and that non-veterinarians are directed to perform painful, but routine surgical procedures on the animals without anesthesia. According to the data provided to FOX6 (which Ridglan Farms neither confirmed nor asked us to correct), the number one buyer over that two-year period was NASCO, a biological supply company for educators based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. NASCO bought 1,736 Ridglan dogs during that time, but it's not clear how they are using the animals or what happens when they are finished. Number two was TRS Labs, a research and development laboratory in Athens, Georgia. The third-largest customer was the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. FOX6 Investigators previously reported on IIT's use of 38 Ridglan beagles for a Covid-19 drug toxicity experiment. All 38 dogs were killed on the 15th day of testing so their organs could be harvested for further testing. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android FOX6 Investigators contacted the 10 largest companies on the buyers list, but 9 of them did not respond to our request for comment. Labcorp (previously known as Covance) in Madison, Wisconsin, did respond to an earlier request for comment after FOX6 Investigators found USDA records showing it uses more dogs for laboratory experiments (2,758 in 2023) than any other lab in Wisconsin. A company spokesperson wrote at the time that "Labcorp firmly believes the proper care of all research animals is fundamental to ethical scientific research and the ability to develop safe and effective new medicines that improve health and improves lives." What they're saying The one company that did respond was East Tennessee Clinical Research, a private laboratory on a remote farm west of Knoxville. The company's founder, Dr. Craig Reinemeyer, is a veterinarian and serves as the laboratory's scientific officer. He said he decided to speak up because public perception of animal research is tainted. "They think we're just the wild, wild west. We're out here doing whatever we want to do. And they don't realize how heavily regulated this industry is," Reinemeyer said. Reinemeyer said ETCR conducts experiments on dogs to test both therapeutics intended for other dogs and for drugs meant to eventually be used on humans. The Food and Drug Administration requires that all experimental drugs be proven safe and effective before human trials can begin. He said they're just following the rules and he bristles at the suggestion that what they do constitutes "abuse" or "torture," as some critics claim."The implication is that I, as a veterinarian, have completely abandoned my principles. That I am only interested in profit," Reinemeyer said. "And that I am willing to stick red-hot needles in puppies' eyeballs if somebody will pay me enough money. And that ain't the case." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Reinemeyer said beagles make the best research animals not just because of their docile temperament, but also because of their ability to withstand life in a cage. "Beagles tolerate confinement," Reinemeyer said. In March, Reinemeyer wrote a two-page letter to the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board in defense of Dr. Richard Van Domelen, Ridglan Farms' lead veterinarian. In the letter, he wrote that he was a "loyal" customer of Ridglan. He said he visited the facility in 2024 and saw an employee playing with beagle puppies. He learned the employee's full-time job was socializing the animals. Finally, he told the board he did not think the cherry eye surgeries that are the subject of a criminal investigation constitute "animal cruelty." The other side The criminal investigation into Ridglan Farms was prompted by a complaint filed by an animal rights group called Dane4Dogs. "I think it's odd that he would want to announce to the world just how low his standards are," said Rebekah Robinson, Dane4Dogs president. Robinson said beagles may tolerate cages better than other dog breeds by comparison, but that doesn't mean it's good for them. "Confinement is just cruelty to these animals," Robinson said. "These dogs are meant to be social animals. They are bred specifically for their attachment to humans." Robinson also challenged the notion that animal research is "heavily regulated." Federal law requires animal research labs to set up internal committees known as Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees. They are designed to provide oversight that ensures animal testing is safe, humane and minimizes animal discomfort and pain. Robinson said those committees are commonly staffed by insiders with a vested interest in the research moving forward. At ETCR, the principal investigator conducting the research is Craig Reinemeyer, while the chair of the IACUC is Bree Reinemeyer - his daughter. "It's the fox guarding the henhouse," Robinson said. "They are writing their own regulations." Reinemeyer insists the IACUC is not a rubber stamp. "They ask us hard questions," Reinemeyer said. Dig deeper In 2022, Congress passed (and President Biden signed into law) the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which allows for non-animal alternative methods to be used to prove the safety and efficacy of a drug. That means animal testing is technically not required to get an experimental drug into clinical trials. However, FDA has yet to establish rules and regulations to implement the new law. "I actually see the FDA as being the root of the problem," said Amy Van Aartsen, founder of The Marty Project, which advocates for "novel alternative methods" like using 3-dimentional models that mimic human organs. She said traditional research labs have been resistant to the idea of change. "And I would argue if they're not actively, you know, doing things to be part of the solution. They are part of the problem," Van Aartsen said. Eventually, Van Aartsen said, artificial intelligence will allow for sophisticated computer models that will be far more reliable than dogs or other animals at predicting how a drug will work in humans. But Reinemeyer said he believes non-animal testing methods are still a long way off. "[Some say] a decade away. I think, a generation," Reinemeyer said. What's next Multiple investigations into possible animal mistreatment at Ridglan Farms remain ongoing. La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke is serving as a special prosecutor to determine if criminal charges should be filed. The Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board has agreed to allow Dr. Van Domelen to continue practicing while his disciplinary proceeding continues. That agreement is conditioned upon all surgeries at Ridglan being performed only by licensed vets using proper anesthesia. Finally, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is also investigating possible violations of animal welfare at Ridglan that were noted by inspectors in 2024. The Source FOX6 Investigators relied on data from an anonymous source at Ridglan Farms, congressional legislation, FDA regulations, public records from the Veterinary Examining Board, interviews with animal rights activists, animal researchers and email communications with an attorney for Ridglan Farms.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dogs of science; Wisconsin puppy mill could face criminal charges
The Brief Ridglan Farms west of Madison faces multiple investigations for alleged mistreatment of animals and violations of professional veterinary practice. Founded in 1966, it is the second-largest operation in the United States that breeds beagle puppies for scientific research. Former employees testified about performing painful surgeries without anesthesia, prompting a Dane County judge to appoint a special prosecutor. MADISON, Wis. - A factory farm west of Madison that breeds beagle puppies for use in scientific experiments is facing both criminal and disciplinary investigations for mistreatment of animals. Ridglan Farms houses more than 3,200 dogs whose only purpose is to be used in - or sold for - scientific experiments. In February, a Dane County judge appointed La Crosse County prosecutor Tim Gruenke to consider possible criminal charges. Last week, the Wisconsin veterinary examining board voted to place restrictions on surgical procedures while it considers a possible license suspension for Dr. Richard Van Domelen, Ridglan's lead veterinarian. The backstory Ridglan Farms was founded in 1966 and for nearly 60 years it has engaged in the controversial field of breeding beagles for animal research. The factory farm is located in a remote area of western Dane County and consists of a series of large agricultural buildings surrounded by barbed wire fencing. In 2017, animal rights activists working for Direct Action Everywhere entered the facility in the middle of the night on a mission to draw attention to what was happening inside. Videos they recorded show rows upon rows of stacked metal cages filled with 1-2 beagles each inside a long, windowless metal shed. The activists removed three beagles from their cages and left, then published the evidence of what they'd done. One of the activists – former Northwestern University law professor Wayne Hsiung – called the operation an "open rescue." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "If the only way we can get any attention on what's happening inside Ridglan Farms is for them to prosecute us, then we have to do that," Hsiung said. Timeline In 2021, four years after the activists removed the dogs, the Dane County DA filed criminal charges against Hsiung and two others for burglary and theft. The case was set for trial on March 22, 2024. But just two weeks before it started, Ridglan Farms asked the DA to drop the charges, fearing public backlash after the company received what it described as "death threats." Hsiung and his colleagues objected to their own charges being dismissed. On April 15, 2024, he and a group called Dane4Dogs turned the tables. They filed a petition for the appointment of a special prosecutor to charge Ridglan Farms with mistreatment of animals. In October 2024, former employees of Ridglan testified to participating in painful and bloody surgical procedures to remove dogs' swollen eye glands. They had no veterinary license and testified that they used no anesthesia, but conducted the procedures at the direction of Dr. Van Domelen. Big picture view Beagles have been popular subjects for scientific research since the 1950s when the US Atomic Energy Commission subjected them to radiation exposure. A book published in 1970 described beagles as particularly well-suited for experiments due to their "medium size," manageable length of hair, and their "even temperament." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News"They're docile. They're small. And they're gentle," Hsiung said. Fifty years later, they are still bred and sold for laboratory testing. By the numbers According to the USDA, more than 28,000 animals are housed in laboratories across Wisconsin. More than 3,600 of them, or 13%, are dogs. The most common research animals are non-human primates (monkeys) and rabbits. That does not include mice, rats and fish, which USDA does not track. Of the 3,600 research dogs in Wisconsin, approximately 3% are involved in testing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Area Technical College and SPF North America. Twenty-one percent are experimented on at Ridglan (in addition to thousands bred and held for sale). By far, most – more than 75% – are housed at Labcorp, a private drug development laboratory in Madison. It tells FOX6 Investigators its treatment of dogs is "ethical" and leads to the development of "safe and effective new medicines." The other side Supporters say a long list of medical advancements can be traced to animal research. "These therapies that come out of this research not only go on to benefit the dogs themselves, but also humans," said Naomi Charlambakis with Americans for Medical Progress, which is defending the scientific community against calls for funding cuts to animal-based studies. Charlambakis said insulin is just one example of a human therapy that started with research in dogs, whose bodies she said have great similarities to that of humans. "It really helps researchers understand how a disease operates, or you know, how basic biological processes work," Charlambakis said. Push for Legislation The movement to eliminate animal testing is bringing together an unusual alliance – left-leaning animal rights groups and right-leaning fiscal conservatives who want to cut funding for science. "Over $20 billion a year of taxpayers' money is still wasted annually on ineffective and inhumane tests on puppies, kittens and other animals," said Justin Goodman, senior Vice President of the White Coat Waste Project, which was founded by conservative political consultant Anthony Bellotti. "Animals don't care who you vote for," Goodman said. "They just want to stop being tortured in laboratories." In 2021, White Coat Waste Project used records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act to tie controversial overseas experiments on beagles to funding from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, led at the time by Dr. Anthony Fauci. The research in Tunisia involved exposing healthy beagles to diseased sand flies to test a possible treatment that could protect both dogs and humans. Many of the dogs involved in the experiment were later euthanized due to severe illness. "Especially with the advent of DOGE and the new administration coming in and looking for ways to cut, slashing spending that hurts puppies and kittens is something that can unite everyone," Goodman said. What's next Amy Van Aartsen is among a chorus of voices calling for the closure of Ridglan Farms. She is both a beagle lover and a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While Van Aartsen does not speak for the university, she said newer technology – including microchips that mimic human organs – could eliminate the need for animal research in the future. In the meantime, she is focused on freeing more than three thousand beagles from Ridglan Farms – dogs that remind her of her own beagle at home. "I see my Maggie," Van Aartsen said. "I see that could have been her." La Crosse County Prosecutor Tim Gruenke said he is reviewing documents in the case, but cannot set a timeline for making a charging decision. The Veterinary Examining Board voted not to immediately suspend Dr. Van Domelen's license, as requested by a board investigator. Instead, the board agreed to a stipulation that as the disciplinary case proceeds, all surgeries at Ridglan Farms will be performed only by licensed veterinarians using proper anesthesia. The Source For this investigation, we relied upon a variety of sources, including data reported annually to the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service; FOIA records of laboratory experiments provided by White Coat Waste Project; video inside Ridglan Farms courtesy of Wayne Hsiung of The Simple Heart (formerly of Direct Action Everywhere); Dane County court filings for 2021CF1838 and 2024JD0001; audio recordings of a December meeting between Ridglan Farms and the Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP); DATCP and USDA inspection records of Ridglan Farms; disciplinary records from the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board; archival newspaper clippings of research on beagles; and interviews with a variety of researchers and animal activists.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
La Crosse district attorney to handle animal abuse claims against Blue Mounds beagle breeder
MADISON - The La Crosse County District Attorney has been assigned to investigate claims of animal mistreatment against a Wisconsin facility known for breeding beagles for use in research. After Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford last month found evidence for an investigation into Ridglan Farms, she asked Attorney General Josh Kaul for help in identifying a prosecutor to take over the case, according to documents. Kaul and the Department of Justice selected La Crosse DA Tim Gruenke to investigate whether charges could be brought against the facility. Ridglan Farms, located in Blue Mounds just outside of Madison, is home to 3,200 beagles bred for medical testing and research, according to its website. The beagles raised and bred at the facility are sometimes experimented upon in the facility but can also be purchased and delivered to a buyer. According to court documents, the Blue Mounds business is mistreating the thousands of animals it breeds and cares for. Allegations range from unclean premises, with excrement collecting under cages, to surgical procedures conducted on dogs without anesthesia or pain medication, such as cutting their vocal flaps so they can't bark at full volume. The documents said after medical procedures, witnesses reported "the dogs would be thrashing around in pain, often yelping, crying out." Employees would put them back into a cage even if they were bleeding. More: Dogs, cats and rabbits can no longer be legally sold in Waukesha pet stores The dogs are also forced to live in close quarters and rarely leave the enclosures, the documents say. The business employs 16 people, three of whom were tasked with socializing and spending time with the dogs. Dogs often developed sores on their feet from living on the wire mesh floors of their cages, and often puppies could be seen with their legs and paws falling through the holes, documents allege. Ridglan Farms did not respond to questions about the conditions described in the documents. On its website Ridglan touts its attention to care. "We are committed to the highest standards of health and quality which is backed by our AAALAC International accreditation for animal care and welfare." In addition to the prosecutor assignment, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Veterinary Examining Board conducted a follow-up inspection Wednesday, according to Sam Go, the communications director for DATCP. Go said the findings would be reviewed by the Examining Board, who will decide the next steps. Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@ and on X @SchulteLaura. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: La Crosse DA to look into animal abuse claims at beagle breeder
