We’ve been hearing from many community members who are concerned about the dogs at Ridglan Farms. We understand—this is a deeply upsetting and emotional situation.

Ridglan Farms is a large-scale dog facility in Mount Horeb that breeds beagles for use in research. The scale of their operations is significant, involving thousands of dogs at a time.

In late 2025, a legal agreement was reached that will result in the facility surrendering their license to sell dogs by July 1, 2026 to avoid criminal prosecution. As part of that agreement, Ridglan Farms may continue to place dogs prior to closure. This is an evolving situation, and many individual organizations are closely following what happens next.

Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) is a private, nonprofit organization and does not have legal authority to investigate animal abuse or seize animals. DCHS maintains contractual relationships to serve as a holding facility for stray and impounded animals, including those seized by local authorities pursuant to Chapter 173 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Decisions on whether to seize an animal or to keep a seized animal at DCHS are made by law enforcement, statutorily-authorized humane officers, and representatives of Dane County Animal Control, in conjunction with local prosecutors and the courts.

Oversight and enforcement in the Ridglan Farms case fall under the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). They can be reached at (608) 224-5015.

If dogs are released and in need of care, we stand ready to assist alongside partner shelters and rescue organizations to provide support and help find homes. Our priority is always the wellbeing of the animals and working collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes.

While we are not able to intervene directly at the facility, we remain committed to supporting animal welfare efforts in our community. For updates and ongoing advocacy efforts, we recommend following Dane4Dogs.