The chaotic scene at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles southwest of Madison, marked the latest attempt by protesters to seize dogs from the property, according to reports. In a March raid, activists removed 13 beagles, leading the Dane County Sheriff’s Office to refer burglary and trespassing charges against 62 people to the local district attorney’s office, as stated by authorities. Activists have framed these actions as mass rescues, accusing the facility of mistreating the dogs, allegations that Ridglan Farms denies.
The protest was organized by the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, which had publicized plans for a Sunday operation but launched a day earlier, the group said. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300-400 protesters were violently trying to break into the property and assault officers. He added that protesters ignored designated protest areas and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades including a manure-filled trench, hay bales, and a barbed-wire fence; according to the Wisconsin State Journal, some got through the fence but could not enter the facility housing an estimated 2,000 beagles. The sheriff’s department reported a significant number of arrests among the roughly 1,000 protesters, though the exact total was not given as processing continued Saturday afternoon. One person was arrested for recklessly driving a pickup truck through the front gate, which the department said prevented a potentially deadly outcome.
The X account of group leader Wayne Hsiung posted a picture of him being arrested at the scene, the group reported. Later on Saturday, activists moved to protest outside the jail in downtown Madison.