Animal Rights Activists Clash With Police at Wisconsin Beagle Research Facility

Protesters tried to storm the Ridglan Farms facility but were driven back by rubber bullets, tear gas, and arrests.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:11pm

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Roughly 1,000 animal rights activists rushed a Wisconsin beagle breeding facility on Saturday, but law enforcement drove them back with rubber bullets, tear gas, and pepper spray. The group's leader, Wayne Hsiung, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. This was the second attempt by activists to breach the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, which houses around 2,000 beagles.

Why it matters

The clash highlights the ongoing tensions between animal rights activists and research facilities that use beagles and other animals for medical testing. While the activists argue the animals are being mistreated, the facility insists no credible evidence of abuse has been proven.

The details

Protesters fought through a trench filled with manure, hay bales, and barbed-wire fencing but could not get inside the buildings. A driver who recklessly steered a pickup truck through the front gate was taken into custody, and authorities said they arrested a 'significant' number of additional people. Law enforcement had built a layered response strategy ahead of the confrontation, confiscating items like saws, sledgehammers, and fence cutters from the demonstrators.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • This was the second attempt by activists to breach the Ridglan Farms facility, with the first occurring on March 15, 2026.

The players

Ridglan Farms

A beagle breeding facility located in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, that houses around 2,000 beagles used for medical research.

Wayne Hsiung

The attorney who leads the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, and was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett

The sheriff who stated that the protest was not peaceful and that protesters were 'violently trying to break into the property' and attacking officers.

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What they’re saying

“This is not a peaceful protest.”

— Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett

“I am in tears hearing these stories about what is unfolding at Ridglan Farms. This is the kind of bravery from ordinary people that changes the world. We cannot give up on the dogs. If we stay focused on this purpose, the repression will backfire.”

— Wayne Hsiung, Attorney, Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs

What’s next

The judge will decide on Wayne Hsiung's bail status in the coming days.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between animal rights activists and research facilities that use animals for testing. While the activists argue the animals are being mistreated, the facility insists no credible evidence of abuse has been proven. The clash raises questions about the appropriate balance between animal welfare and scientific research.