Ridglan Farms Update

March 25, 2026
Elise Schaffer, PIO
Sheriff's Office

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office, along with other county officials, has seen a passionate response from around the world following the March 15th break-in at Ridglan Farms. While we believe our local community is aware of Ridglan Farms' status, we’re seeing significant misinformation circulating on social media, sparking concerns from animal advocates across the country and beyond.
Ridglan Farms is a breeding and research facility licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 2025, after a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge appointed a special prosecutor to investigate alleged violations of Wisconsin’s animal cruelty laws, Ridglan Farms reached a settlement to avoid criminal prosecution, agreeing to surrender its state license to sell dogs, effective July 1st, 2026. Until July 1st, Ridglan is legally permitted to sell its remaining dogs, and they will continue to operate as a USDA Class A dog breeder and licensed Class R research facility.
While many have requested that local law enforcement refer animal cruelty charges under Wisconsin State Statute 951, the law clearly states that it does not apply to “teaching, research, or experimentation conducted pursuant to a protocol or procedure approved by an educational or research institution.” 
Despite information shared by groups online, the Sheriff’s Office does not have any of the Beagles recovered on March 15th. Additionally, we are still determining exactly how many dogs were taken. 
As previously mentioned, the Sheriff’s Office recognizes the strong feelings people have for the Beagles at Ridglan Farms and respects their right to protest peacefully. However, on Sunday, March 15th, several people from outside our community committed crimes, including trespassing, criminal damage to property, and burglary. The investigation into their actions is ongoing, and charges will be forwarded to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office.