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Activists attempt to storm Ridglan Farms
Hundreds of activists from across the US and Canada are once again attempting to storm Ridglan Farms in an attempt to remove nearly 2,000 beagles that remain at the breeding farm in western Dane County on Saturday, April 18.
DANE COUNTY, Wis. - Hundreds of activists from across the U.S. and Canada are once again attempting to storm Ridglan Farms in an attempt to remove nearly 2,000 beagles that remain at the breeding farm in western Dane County.
Attempted break-in
The latest:
The action, previously announced for Sunday, started a day early – just as it did in March, when approximately 60 activists removed 22 beagles and sent them to undisclosed rescue homes.
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This time, law enforcement was ready for the siege, repeatedly deploying tear gas and blocking the activists from getting into the breeding barns.
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Update on situation at Ridgland Farms in Dane County
FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn is in western Dane County with an update on the situation outside of Ridglan Farms where activists attempted to storm the facility to "rescue" the beagles.
The farm is still surrounded by several hundred protesters and activists who said they are determined to keep trying. There are conflicting reports of a handful of demonstrators sustaining injuries, including one seen on drone video being pulled through a gap in a fence by law enforcement. Another activist said she was shot with a rubber bullet. So far, there is no indication any beagles have been removed.
Ridglan Farms breeds beagles for scientific experiments. The owners recently agreed to give up their breeding license by this summer to avoid animal cruelty charges.
PHOTO GALLERY: Attempted break-in at Ridglan Farms
Dane County sheriff responds
What they're saying:
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett posted a response to the ongoing incident on the sheriff's office Facebook page.
In a video message posted April 15, Barrett said he supports the activists' First Amendment right to protest, "but we have to draw a decisive line between peacefully protesting and disagreeing and violently breaking into a facility, damaging property and stealing private property."
The sheriff also recommended 63 people for criminal charges in connection with the March break-in at Ridglan Farms.
Ridglan Farms responds
What they're saying:
Ridglan Farms released the following statement in response Saturday:
"At approximately 9 am this morning, approximately 1,500 animal rights extremists launched a violent assault on Ridglan Farms, a biomedical research facility that conducts veterinary research benefitting pet animals. The siege is ongoing with activists attempting to repeatedly break through fences. Because this is a rapidly changing situation, here are the latest updates."
- The violent assault started at 9 am, with activists attempting to breach the main gate and fence at the front of the facility.
- At approximately 10 am, an activist driving a pickup truck, rammed through the front gate of Ridglan Farms and drove through the property at high speed nearly running over several police, security staff and bystanders. That person was arrested by police within Ridglan Farms property and currently remains in custody.
- Activists attempted to break-in repeatedly from all sides of the research facility, driving trucks across neighboring farmland and crops.
- Activists have also repeatedly tossed gas canisters over the fence at police and other security officials located inside the facility.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story spelled "Ridglan" and "Ridgland." It has since been corrected.
The Source: FOX6 Investigators are at the scene in Dane County on Saturday. Information in this post is also from the Dane County sheriff and prior coverage.