Animal rights groups forged a deal to rescue 1,500 beagles from a troubled Wisconsin research facility after chaotic protests led to the arrest of several activists last month — though the fate of hundreds of pooches left behind remains unclear.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy negotiated a confidential agreement to purchase the 1,500 beagles for an undisclosed price tag from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds.
However, roughly 500 pups will remain at the controversial research lab while negotiations with animal rights groups continue, Fox6 reported.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue is working to find homes for 1,000 of the dogs, and the Center for a Humane Economy will take the rest.
Last month, Wisconsin cops used teargas and rubber bullets to fend off a horde of 1,000 activists who stormed Ridglan Farms armed with sledgehammers, prying tools and chainsaws. Police arrested 29 people, including five who face felony burglary charges.
In March, protesters also broke in and snatched 30 dogs, leading the sheriff’s department to refer 63 people for possible charges for the break-in.
Ridglan Farms previously agreed to lose its state breeding license, effective on July 1, to avoid being prosecuted on felony animal mistreatment charges.
Though the facility has denied mistreating the pups, a special prosecutor determined they were performing eye procedures that violated state veterinary standards.
Tim Gruenke, the prosecutor who orchestrated the deal, said that Ridglan will still be able to experiment on the beagles inside the facility, despite being barred from selling the dogs, Fox6 reported.
Next week, the Dane County Humane Society will work to get the remaining 500 beagles out of the facility, the outlet said.
“We are engaging in continuing discussions with Ridglan,” Wayne Pacelle with the Center for a Humane Economy told the outlet.
Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, said her group has already received a whopping 700 adoption applications to find the hounds’ new homes — though it may take some time to screen potential dog parents and ensure the dogs are housebroken.
The freed beagles — which are commonly used for animal testing due to their small size and gentle temperament — have been pawing for attention since their rescue.
“They started within an hour or so coming up to us, wanting attention. Some crawled in people’s laps. Every single one of them are super sweet,” Simmons recalled to the Associated Press.
“I think they are loving the attention. I just know they know they’re safe.”
With Post wires
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