Beagles Rescued from Ridge Run Farm Begin New Lives

Many beagles saved from the contentious Ridge Run Farm in Wisconsin are discovering what it means to be a dog for the first time. After spending years in breeding facilities for experimental research, hundreds have now found forever homes where they experience grass, steps, toys, and, quite importantly, love.

“They don’t even realize they’re dogs right now,” said Robert Miceli, co-founder of Paws of War, on “My View with Lara Trump.”

Rescue Efforts for Ridge Run Farm Beagles

Following negotiations to free them, the beagles have started to leave the Wisconsin facility. Miceli described how, over time and with the help of their new families, the dogs are beginning to adapt. “They came in from very difficult environments, but as we’ve seen with our adopters, they’re coming back,” he shared.

Miceli’s team specializes in training rescue dogs to assist U.S. military veterans grappling with the psychological aftermath of war. Recently, they took in ten of these beagles after state investigators revealed possible animal welfare law violations, a development that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. labeled “a major victory for animal welfare.”

Adjusting to life outside the facility is a gradual process. These dogs often face challenges like walking on grass, climbing stairs, and interacting with humans. “When you look at them and they’re shut down, that’s how they lived,” Miceli noted.

Challenges and Support

Miceli’s organization has a dedicated team to ease this transition. Adoption director Jody Cohen emphasized that they are committed to these “little traumatized souls.” They interview veterans and first responders to find the best matches for the dogs, teaching them essential skills along the way.

“They have never been walked on a leash, so we have to carry it out,” Cohen explained. She added that teaching them how to go outside and maintain cleanliness is crucial. Once adopted, the dogs also have access to free group obedience training, and adopters receive hundreds of dollars’ worth of supplies. It’s about forging a relationship, she said, which distinguishes their program.

The aim here is dual—helping both the animals and their new owners heal from trauma and find mutual confidence. “Life is changing on both ends of the string, and it really is,” Miceli mentioned. “It’s made tremendous progress, and that’s why we wake up every morning knowing we can do it again.”