Dozens of arrests in sleepy Wisconsin countryside after animal rights activists stormed farm with VERY controversial sideline

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:08, 21 April 2026 | Updated: 15:15, 21 April 2026 More than two dozen animal rights activists were hauled off in handcuffs in Wisconsin after a dramatic raid on a farm breeding beagles for biomedical research. Thousands of protesters gathered at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles southwest of the capital, Madison, on Saturday and tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility. Footage shared by the farm showed a truck ramming through the facility gate, but the protesters were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets. 'At one point, a vehicle drove recklessly through the property until law enforcement stopped it and arrested the driver, preventing a potentially deadly outcome,' the Dane County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.  Sheriff Kalvin Barrett added in a video message that 300 to 400 protesters were 'violently trying to break into the property' and assault officers.  He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering. 'This is not a peaceful protest,' Barrett said. Around 25 protesters were arrested, including the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary.  Around 25 protesters were arrested after they stormed Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin on Saturday The protesters tried to gain entry to the farm, which is a beagle breeding and research facility 'No one should be assaulted for giving aid to a dog, even if damage to property is part of that rescue effort,' Hsuing said in a statement from jail Sunday that also accused authorities of using excessive force.  'The animals of this Earth are not "things." They're sentient beings. And we have the right to rescue them from abuse,' he concluded.  Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence.  Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Neighbors told WMTV they were concerned for their safety during the unruly protests. 'It was crazy. It was nothing I've ever seen before,' said Maya Newman, who works on her grandfather's farm nearby. 'You couldn't drive, you could barely walk. It was crowded, so being late to work and not being able to feed the calves was really hard. 'If you want to protest for something you believe in, you do that. That's all okay. But if it's affecting other people's lives and their jobs and the money they need to survive, you need to step back.'  Footage shared by the farm showed a truck ramming through the facility gate Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept Saturday's protest was the second attempt in as many months by demonstrators to take beagles from the farm. Protesters broke into the facility in March and took 30 dogs. Twenty-seven people were arrested on trespassing and other charges. The activists returned to Ridglan Farms on Sunday to protest, but the sheriff's office said the situation was 'significantly calmer and more peaceful.' 'We´re pleased with the group´s cooperation today, and their willingness to remain peaceful, while still sending their message of concern for the dogs at Ridglan Farms,' Sheriff Barrett said in a statement. 'We are happy to support anyone who wants to exercise the right to protest, as long as they do so lawfully.' The activists gathered outside of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' Capitol office on Monday, chanting 'Free the dogs!' and demanding that the governor and attorney general do what they can to shut down Ridglan.  More than 100 protesters were met outside of the Capitol hallway that leads to the offices of Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul by police officers who handed out constituent contact forms for Wisconsin residents to complete. The Daily Mail contacted Evers and Kaul's offices for comment.  Ridglan has denied mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges. Protesters who stormed the gate were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets Sheriff Kalvin Barrett added in a video message that 300 to 400 protesters were 'violently trying to break into the property' and assault officers A special prosecutor determined that Ridglan was performing eye procedures on the dogs that violated state veterinary standards.  On its website, it says 'no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.' Under that settlement, Ridglan will no longer be able to sell beagles to outside researchers starting July 1. The facility says it has served as a biomedical research hub 'that supports health studies benefitting both humans and animals' for more than 60 years.  Nearly all of its current research is aimed at improving veterinary medicine, according to its website. In a statement Monday, it said that activists 'have spread false and highly misleading claims about our research and our deep commitment to animal welfare, fueling dangerous levels of anger and hatred.'  Ridglan said staff members have been threatened and followed as they leave the facility. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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