Sacramento Woman Joins Effort to Rescue Beagles from Wisconsin Facility

Activists continue to target breeding farm accused of inhumane conditions

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:33am

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus scene of several blurred beagle figures running through a hazy, earthy-toned field, conveying a sense of movement, freedom, and the emotional weight of the rescue efforts.Animal rights activists risk arrest to rescue beagles from a controversial Wisconsin breeding facility, sparking a growing national movement.Today in Sacramento

A Sacramento resident named Tina Lassiter is traveling across the country to join a growing movement of animal rights activists working to rescue beagles from a breeding facility in Wisconsin. The activists claim the dogs are living in torturous conditions and being used for medical research, though the facility says it follows federal regulations.

Why it matters

The case has drawn national attention and sparked a debate over the ethics of animal testing and the treatment of dogs in the medical research industry. It also highlights the growing willingness of some activists to take direct action, even at the risk of legal consequences, to try to free animals from what they view as cruel conditions.

The details

In March, dozens of activists broke into the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin and removed 22 beagles. Authorities say as many as 60 people were involved, with 27 being taken into custody. The activists claim thousands of dogs remain at the facility, which breeds dogs used in medical research. Ridglan Farms says it follows federal animal care regulations, but the facility agreed in 2025 to surrender its state license to sell dogs as part of a legal settlement tied to an animal cruelty investigation.

  • On March 15, activists broke into the Ridglan Farms facility and removed 22 beagles.
  • Ridglan Farms' state license to sell dogs is set to be terminated on July 1, 2026, though the facility is allowed to continue operating until that date.

The players

Tina Lassiter

A Sacramento resident who is traveling across the country to join the effort to rescue beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Wisconsin.

Wayne Hsiung

A lawyer and animal rights activist who is leading the movement to rescue the beagles.

Ridglan Farms

A breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin that breeds dogs used in medical research. The facility says it follows federal animal care regulations.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin D. Barrett

The sheriff who said activists "organized and planned a protest and intentional break-in of private property at the Ridglan Farms facility" on March 15.

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What they’re saying

“I've never done anything like this before… but I have to do it.”

— Tina Lassiter, Sacramento resident

“It's inhumane. It's not right.”

— Tina Lassiter, Sacramento resident

“There's a lot of us, and we're all trying to do what's right for the dogs. We hope we get all of the beagles out. It's a big hope, but that's what we have to do.”

— Tina Lassiter, Sacramento resident

What’s next

Activists say they plan to continue organizing protests and potential break-ins at the Ridglan Farms facility in an effort to free more beagles, despite the risk of legal consequences.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between animal rights activists and the medical research industry, as well as the willingness of some activists to take direct action to try to free animals from what they view as cruel conditions. It also raises questions about the ethics of animal testing and the regulation of the industry.