Wisconsin law enforcement used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse a large group of roughly 1,000 animal rights activists who attempted to enter a beagle research facility in Blue Mounds, according to authorities.
The incident took place Saturday morning at Ridglan Farms, where protesters reportedly scaled fences and barriers, and blocked nearby roads during an effort to reach the property. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said the operation escalated quickly and required assistance from more than 17 local and state agencies. Officials confirmed that the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsuing, was taken into custody. No serious injuries were reported, though the number of arrests was not immediately released.
Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said deputies were not expecting activity at that time, noting the group had planned a demonstration for Sunday but arrived shortly before 9 a.m. on Saturday instead. He said the response by law enforcement was measured given the circumstances and that order was restored without serious harm to those involved. Barrett also said that while animal welfare is a concern for the county, “crime, chaos, and violence” are not acceptable methods of protest.
According to the sheriff’s office, some individuals at the scene were equipped with tools including sledgehammers, pry bars, and chainsaws. Authorities also alleged that a pickup truck was driven into the facility’s front gate during the confrontation. Officials said items such as tear gas and handcuff keys were recovered from some participants, and that emergency communication systems were overwhelmed by a surge of calls during the incident.
Protest organizers have said they intended to serve legal papers at the facility and described their actions as nonviolent, claiming they aimed to secure the release of up to 2,000 beagles housed there. They also argued that any law enforcement intervention would be unlawful.
Ridglan Farms has faced previous scrutiny over animal treatment. The facility has been ordered to surrender its state breeding license by July 1, which would end its ability to sell dogs to outside researchers. A former employee previously alleged mistreatment of animals, including invasive procedures such as eye surgeries performed without general anesthesia. A special prosecutor later concluded that some procedures violated veterinary standards and constituted mistreatment.
The facility has denied wrongdoing, stating that no credible evidence of abuse or neglect has been substantiated. It also maintains that it operates under strict regulatory oversight and has been regularly inspected by state and federal authorities, with most of its work focused on veterinary medical research.