Protest at Wisconsin Beagle Facility Leads to Violence

On Saturday, hundreds of animal rights activists tried to force their way into a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The police responded by using tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, ultimately arresting the group’s leader.

This marked the second time in a few months that protesters had attempted to rescue a beagle from Ridge Run Farms located in Blue Mounds, roughly 40 miles southwest of Madison.

Dane County Sheriff Calvin Barrett stated in a video that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently attempting to enter the premises,” with some even assaulting officers.

He noted that the demonstrators disregarded areas set aside for peaceful protests and blocked access routes for emergency vehicles. “This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett emphasized.

Protesters struggled against barricades that included ditches filled with fertilizer, hay bales, and barbed wire. While some managed to climb over the fence, they could not enter the facility, which houses an estimated 2,000 beagles.

“I just feel defeated,” said activist Julie Wrzeski three hours into the efforts, expressing frustration over their inability to rescue any dogs.

After the protest ensued, activists relocated to stage a demonstration outside the jail in downtown Madison.

The Ridge Run Dog Rescue Coalition had initially planned to carry out their operation on Sunday but began early. Additionally, Wayne Shun, the group’s leader, was arrested during the incident.

Barrett also mentioned that another individual, who drove a pickup truck through the property’s front gate and nearly hit a police officer and a staff member, was arrested as well.

In March, protesters managed to break into the same facility and took 30 dogs, leading to 27 arrests on charges like trespassing.

While Ridge Run Farms has denied any allegations of animal cruelty, they agreed in October to surrender their state breeding license effective July 1, in a deal to avoid prosecution over such charges.

The facility maintains that “No credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment, or neglect at Ridge Run Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”