Thousands of beagles bred for research get a new life as questions mount over federal oversight
August 18, 2026 / 5:35 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- The last 155 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding facility for biomedical research, have been relocated to a rescue in Florida.
- Over 2,000 dogs were released from the facility this year.
- Wisconsin regulators identified 494 violations at Ridglan Farms, with concerns about humane handling.
- Federal inspection records from the USDA showed only a few minor violations over the past decade.
- A Wisconsin judge found probable cause to believe Ridglan had committed animal cruelty crimes.
- Ridglan Farms denies violating any laws and claims a history of exemplary animal care.
- The USDA's own inspector general has previously raised concerns about federal oversight of dog breeders.
- Scientists argue that animals still play a crucial role in medical research, despite advancements in alternatives.