Around 1,500 beagles housed at Ridglan Farms near Madison are being transferred to adoption. The state‑licensed breeder, which supplies dogs for biomedical studies, faced a special prosecutor’s finding of animal mistreatment last fall. Under a deal that strips the facility of its breeding license, the dogs are slated to leave by next week, ending the operation’s commercial sales.

Rescue organization Big Dog Ranch Rescue has purchased 1,000 of the animals and is placing them in cage‑free barns with play yards and pools across its Florida and Alabama campuses. The Beagle Freedom Project will handle the remaining 500 dogs, coordinating adoptions in New York, Chicago and other markets. Both groups will spay, neuter and provide medical care before the dogs enter permanent homes.

The transfer removes a high‑profile target for animal‑rights activists who have staged raids, some ending in tear gas and arrests. By ending Ridglan’s breeding capacity, the case signals growing pressure on the U.S. research sector to replace canine models with alternative methods. Investors in biotech firms that rely on dog studies may need to reassess supply‑chain risk as the industry adjusts.