Ridglan Farms Closes After Years of Animal Welfare Protests

The final transfer of animals begins immediately, with 200 dogs moved on Monday and another 125 scheduled for Tuesday. Lauree Simmons, founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, announced that the facility will cease all breeding and testing operations, ending a practice that drew intense scrutiny from activists. The organization previously purchased roughly 1,500 beagles from the site in April, helping to secure their transition into foster and adoption networks.

Opposition to the facility intensified significantly this spring, characterized by multiple break-ins and a large-scale protest in April that resulted in police deploying chemical irritants and making dozens of arrests. The facility, which faced felony animal mistreatment charges, agreed last October to surrender its state breeding license as part of a settlement. While Ridglan Farms denied allegations of abuse, a special prosecutor had previously flagged illegal eye procedures that failed to meet state veterinary standards. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, publicly lauded the closure, while the company expressed hope that the move would finally halt the harassment of its staff and neighbors.