Store — Alliance for Animals

January 2025

Judge Orders Investigation Into Ridglan Farms

On Thursday morning, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda L. Lanford granted Alliance for Animals’ petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and charge Ridglan Farms with animal mistreatment and other crimes.

In 2024, Alliance for Animals, along with Dane4Dogs, Ltd., and Wayne Hsiung of The Simple Heart, petitioned for a special prosecutor. On October 23, the petitioners presented evidence to Judge Lanford detailing decades of alleged animal cruelty at Ridglan Farms, a large-scale beagle breeding facility supplying dogs for experimentation.

The evidence included:

Testimony from six witnesses, including three experts.
Admission of 27 exhibits.
Documentation of the Dane County District Attorney’s failure to investigate or act.

Thanks to Judge Lanford’s decision, we are one step closer to justice for the beagles and accountability for Ridglan Farms’ cruelty and neglect.

[Link to Judge Lanford’s decision]