{"id":313047,"date":"2026-05-13T03:43:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T03:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/313047\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T03:43:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T03:43:32","slug":"beagles-rescued-from-research-lab-arrive-in-california-as-sf-activist-faces-felony-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/313047\/","title":{"rendered":"Beagles rescued from research lab arrive in California as SF activist faces felony charges"},"content":{"rendered":"

A busload of beagles recently rescued from a research lab in Wisconsin have arrived in California looking for their forever home, as an animal activist in San Francisco faces felony charges for rescuing some of them before they were legally allowed to.<\/p>\n

Out of 1,500 beagles that were rescued from Ridglan Farms<\/a>, a research lab that doubles as a beagle mill<\/a>, a total of 50 arrived in the Bay Area in a school bus on Mother\u2019s Day, after making the nearly 2,000 mile trek to start their life as free pups.<\/p>\n

Video captured the moment<\/a> volunteers with the Northern California Beagle Rescue took the pups off the bus for their first chance to touch grass<\/a> and be real dogs outside of concrete and steel cages.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A busload of beagles recently rescued from a research lab in Wisconsin have arrived in California.<\/p>\n

One of the volunteers, Wendy Lansdon, recalled walking on to the bus and seeing the pooches for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalking into the bus\u2026I don\u2019t want to start crying again. It was very emotional,\u201d Lansdon told ABC 7<\/a>.\u00a0 \u201cAnd some of them, they\u2019re really quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The beagles arrived in the Bay Area on Mother\u2019s Day, after the nearly 2,000 mile trek to start their life as free pups.<\/p>\n

The pups will soon be adopted in homes across Northern California including, San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Ridglan Farms beagles arrived yesterday on Mother\u2019s Day, applications for BOTH fostering and adoption are now officially CLOSED,\u201d a post on social media from the group read.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn just days, we received THOUSANDS of applications and secured enough loving homes for these deserving dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The pups will soon be adopted by homes across Northern California.<\/p>\n

The organization said the rescue is now pivoting to focus on donations to help cover all the vet care the dogs are going to need, as some are underweight and many have bad dental problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese beagles are arriving after lives spent in research facilities, and the road ahead will require extensive veterinary care, patience, decompression, and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another volunteer shared her experience<\/a> so far with one of the pups, and how her new dog, \u201cBandit,\u201d was fitting in \u201cwonderfully\u201d with their own dog Baxter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we watch Bandit take his first tentative steps on grass and explore his new surroundings, every moment is a testament to the resilience of love and hope. Although it\u2019s bittersweet to see him adjust to a world he\u2019s never known, the joy far surpasses the challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April, Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy negotiated a confidential agreement to purchase the 1,500 beagles for an undisclosed price tag from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

One of those activists is San Francisco resident Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski.<\/p>\n

It came following chaotic protests that led to the arrest of several activists<\/a>. One of those activists is San Francisco resident Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski, SFIst reported.<\/a><\/p>\n

Wyrzykowski wrote in a post on Instagram celebrating that the Ridglan dogs were going free<\/a>, but said that \u201cfreedom is still at stake\u201d for him and other animal activists.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour of us are facing felony charges for rescuing beagles before they were released to adoption groups last week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe district attorney says I stole \u2018property.\u2019 But does she look like property to you?\u201dGuzman added, as he held up a little brown and white beagle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThousands of dogs like her are still trapped in labs across the country. We\u2019ll fight for them all at trial \u2014 and force courts to ask whether animals are \u2018something\u2019 or \u2018someone.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ridglan<\/p>\n

Ridglan Farms said that \u201cfalse and highly misleading claims\u201d have been spread about their research.<\/p>\n

Ridglan has denied that it mistreats the animals, but in October agreed to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.<\/p>\n

On its website, Ridglan says \u201cno credible evidence of animal abuse<\/a>, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a recent statement<\/a> following last month\u2019s attack, Ridglan hit back and said that \u201cfalse and highly misleading claims\u201d have been spread about their research and our \u201cdeep commitment to animal welfare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ridglan<\/p>\n

Ridglan has denied that it mistreats the animals.<\/p>\n

Ridglan Farms told the New York Times<\/a> that \u201cthe decision to sell the dogs is not related to any specific event.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the dogs sold last week leave our veterinary research facility, we hope they will continue to live happy lives in their new adopted homes.\u201d<\/p>\n