USDA Orders Ridglan Farms To Surrender Federal Breeding License By July 1 Or Face Federal Action

In a major development in the ongoing fight to shut down Ridglan Farms, Congressman Mark Pocan announced that the USDA has reportedly instructed the controversial Wisconsin beagle breeding facility to surrender its federal breeding license by July 1, 2026, or face official federal action.

The USDA’s involvement comes after approximately 1,500 beagles were recently rescued and transferred out of Ridglan Farms through a massive coordinated effort involving multiple animal welfare organizations working to help save the dogs and place them into safe, loving homes.

As previously reported by WAN, Ridglan Farms became the focus of national outrage following large-scale rescue efforts and demonstrations outside the Wisconsin facility in April. Animal advocates and protesters gathered demanding the release of Ridglan’s dogs amid growing allegations surrounding the breeding of beagles for laboratory experiments and biomedical research.

During the demonstrations, law enforcement officers deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and flashbangs against protesters attempting to rescue the dogs, sparking widespread outrage across social media and among animal welfare advocates around the world.

In the weeks that followed, approximately 1,500 beagles were rescued from Ridglan Farms through a massive coordinated effort involving several animal welfare organizations working to place the dogs into safe, loving homes and rehabilitation programs.

While the reported USDA action marks a significant step forward, Pocan stated that the loss of breeding licenses does not automatically end the onsite research operations still taking place at Ridglan Farms. He said he will continue working with the USDA and NIH in ongoing efforts to shut down the facility and help secure homes for the remaining 650 dogs.

Animal advocates continue calling for full federal intervention to ensure every remaining dog is safely rescued and rehomed.

The reported involvement of the USDA represents one of the most significant developments yet in the growing effort to permanently close Ridglan Farms for good.