Somewhere, Snoopy is smiling.
On Friday, over 300 beagles were released from a breeding operation in Wisconsin that raised the pooches for scientific testing. Many more dogs are scheduled to see freedom in the near future after the breeders came to an agreement with animal rights advocates.
We all know that animal rights groups can often be nutty, but I’m with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy on this one: let’s end painful and sometimes cruel research on man’s best friend.
For many of these pooches, it was the first time they’d ever run around and played and just acted like dogs:
BREAKING: The first 300 Ridglan beagles touched grass for the first time today.
— Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski (@deanguzmanw) May 2, 2026
They stepped outside and looked up at the sun.
Many are playful. Some are scared. All are learning the world can be safe.
Today, they are free. pic.twitter.com/jUF6Y6dCGf
Fox6 Milwaukee reported on the news Friday and detailed what led up to it:
The first van loads of beagles left Ridglan Farms on Friday, the first of at least 10 days of transporting hundreds of dogs to rescues and shelters across the country.
After years of effort, it was an emotional time for activists as the beagles touched grass for the first time and explored a world they had never before experienced.
The beagles were screened by veterinarians, received vaccinations and were given Benadryl, to ensure they don't have reactions to those vaccinations.
Three hundred dogs were removed from Ridglan Farms on Friday. Hundreds more will be released in the coming days.
Ridgland Farms didn't just enter the agreement out of the kindness of their hearts, however. In 2024, witnesses alleged that they saw sick experiments on dogs' eyes without the use of anaesthesia. A judge found probable cause that Ridglan had committed crimes of animal cruelty, and later, a special prosecutor assigned to the case said he would not press charges if they surrendered their breeding licenses by July 1.
It’s not the first positive beagle story we’ve written about in recent years. That Bond villain Dr. Anthony Fauci was knee-deep in promoting experiments on our furry friends:
Fauci Loses, the Beagles Win: Trump’s NIH Director Shutters Last Cruel Beagle Experimentation Labs
Dr. Fauci and the Beagles: 2.5 Years Later RedState Is Vindicated As WaPo Backtracks on His Defense
Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-01) lauded the release of the animals:
These beagles spent their lives in a lab.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) May 2, 2026
Now, their world has changed. They touched grass for the first time and have a lifetime of love and safety ahead of them.
In Congress, we've pushed for legislation to end cruel animal research and continued to be a voice in Washington… https://t.co/R6YNXB13dD
These beagles spent their lives in a lab.
Now, their world has changed. They touched grass for the first time and have a lifetime of love and safety ahead of them.
In Congress, we've pushed for legislation to end cruel animal research and continued to be a voice in Washington for the voiceless.
This is a HUGE milestone for animal welfare. You're safe now. 🐾
The activists’ storming of the facility in March was controversial, and as someone who has heavily criticized violent ICE protesters and vandals, I do not condone it. However, I applaud the efforts of RFK Jr. and others to lawfully end experimentation on dogs, and I love to see these little guys let loose.
Enjoy your new world, precious pups.
A couple rescue groups got together and bought 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms - a very controversial breeding and biotesting facility in Wisconsin. The first 300 made it out today! #wisconsinnews #ridglanfarms #animalrights pic.twitter.com/lOIMrSeVIu
— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) May 2, 2026
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