On Saturday, a large group of animal rights activists attempted to liberate thousands of beagles from a breeding facility in Dane County, Wisconsin, but many protesters ended up facing arrests and tear gas.
This event took place at Ridge Run Farm, where the activists had gathered. Reports indicated that participants had come from various states with the aim of rescuing around 2,000 dogs held there.
In a statement addressing the situation, Dane County Sheriff Calvin Barrett noted, “It was clear from the beginning that this was not going to be a peaceful protest. The DCSO’s response to the active trespass attempt by hundreds of protesters was appropriate and proportionate to what we observed. With assistance from our partner agencies, we managed to maintain order without anyone suffering serious injuries. We care about animal welfare in our community, and violence is not the solution.”
A photograph depicted a crowd of activists alongside dogs in cages outside the facility.
DCSO reported that protest organizer Wayne Shun was arrested, among others. From jail, Shun expressed, “Only a deeply corrupt regime would use tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful activists trying to save dogs. Today, humanity is seeing the worst. But we’ve also witnessed the best in the rescuers’ bravery.”
According to the article, the activists hope this protest will shine more light on the issue.
“Ridge Run Farms breeds beagles for scientific research. The owners recently agreed to surrender their breeding license by July 1 to avoid animal cruelty charges,” the report stated.
Around 1,000 activists assembled at the Blue Mounds facility early that Saturday morning, with law enforcement warning that anyone trespassing would be arrested.
Officials mentioned that hundreds of demonstrators attempted to breach barriers, while some members of the group obstructed roads to hinder law enforcement from responding quickly to the situation.
Video footage showed activists gathering in areas marked with “Private Property” and “No Trespassing” signs.
After the incident, Ridge Run Farms accused Shun of “leading hundreds in a violent act against a veterinary research facility focused on improving pet health,” claiming he might have been injured during the conflict.
The farm stated thorough investigations revealed a “binding legal agreement” with the State of Wisconsin, but they accused Shun of encouraging illegal actions due to his disagreement with the outcome and noted his criminal history.
Law enforcement reportedly discovered saws, cutters, sledgehammers, handcuff keys, and tear gas that activists allegedly brought with them to the scene. This protest follows a previous one in March that involved breaking into the facility and removing 30 dogs.
In May, reports revealed that Dr. Jay Bhattacharyya, director of the National Institutes of Health under President Donald Trump, announced the closure of the last remaining Beagle testing facility after controversies regarding animal testing surfaced.
