TOWN OF BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. — Animal rights activists, including the movement’s leader, broke into Ridglan Farms in the Town of Blue Mounds Saturday morning, rather than the previously scheduled Sunday morning break-in, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office responded to the scene at around 8:52 a.m. and found roughly 1,000 activists converging on the private property.
This follows a March 15 break-in at the animal breeding facility, which has been accused of constant abuse, specifically towards beagles. The sheriff’s office previously referred charges against 63 people after last month’s forced entry.
The group has been working with longtime animal rights activist and Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) co-founder Wayne Hsiung, who was one of the people arrested after the March 15 break-in. Online jail records show Hsiung was booked into the Dane County Jail shortly after 9:45 a.m. Saturday for burglary building or dwelling.
What was originally publicly announced as a Sunday planned protest and break-in, was abruptly changed by Hsiung, following an organizational meeting this morning, the sheriff’s office said.
CREDIT: Dane County Sheriff’s Office
According to a spokesperson from Ridglan Farms, an activist allegedly drove a pickup truck at high speeds, nearly running over several police, security staff, and bystanders. Police arrested her within Ridglan Farms property, and she currently remains in custody.
A significant number of arrests were made; the exact details of those arrests are still being compiled.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video that there were between 300 to 400 activists. He also added that the activists blocked emergency vehicles out on the roadways.
“As your sheriff, I want to be very clear. This is not a peaceful protest, and we will do everything and use every resource we have to keep and maintain the peace,” Barrett said.
Activists insisted that the break-in and the protest were peaceful. A News 3 Now crew on scene said an ambulance was on its way as well.
“They don’t know grass. They don’t know love. They don’t know comfort,” said Veronica Cortis, an animal rights activist. “They deserve freedom. They are alive, with feelings, with rights – and these animal rights are being violated by Ridglan Farms.”
Protestors who ignored verbal warnings were first met with tear gas and even less-lethal munitions and pepper balls if they continued escalating their efforts.
“Additionally, during the attempted break-in, activists attempted to divert resources by overwhelming Dane County’s 911 center and inundating the Sheriff’s Office with phone calls,” the sheriff’s office added.
Reviews by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection raised concerns over “cherry eye” procedures performed at the facility. Ridglan’s lead veterinarian, Richard Von Domelen, saw his license suspended after DATCP found he delegated the procedures to staff who weren’t properly licensed.
DATCP also hit the facility with 311 violations in September, mostly centered on the cherry eye procedures. Last year, Ridglan Farms entered into a settlement with a special prosecutor that saw it hand over its breeding license, effective July 1, in order to avoid criminal prosecution. The facility was allowed to continue operating as a research facility.
Police recovered a large quantity of evidence, including saws, sledgehammers, and fence cutters, as well as handcuff keys and tear gas.
CREDIT: Dane County Sheriff’s Office
It was estimated that 20 law enforcement officers from throughout the county responded.
Ridglan Farms maintains that it is committed to the care of its beagles.
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