Ricky Gervais backs plan to rescue 2,000 dogs used in cruel lab tests

EXCLUSIVE: Ricky Gervais backs plan to rescue 2,000 dogs used in cruel lab testsUp to 2,000 activists plan an “open rescue” of 2,000 Beagles from America's Ridglan Farms, backed by Ricky Gervais, as campaigners cite alleged crueltyCommentsNewsChristopher Bucktin United States Editor08:00, 11 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesRicky Gervais has backed plans for what organisers say will be the biggest “Open Rescue” in history, calling for 2,000 Beagles to be freed from Ridglan Farms(Image: Joseph Sinclair/FLOE )Ricky Gervais has thrown his support behind plans by up to 2,000 activists to carry out the largest “Open Rescue” in animal welfare history.‌Campaigners in the US hope to remove 2,000 Beagles from Ridglan Farms, a breeding facility that supplies laboratories. After Life star and animal rights activist Ricky backed the action planned for April 19. “Dogs are the most sensitive, loyal and loving companions any human could ever encounter,” he said.‌“I'm appalled that Beagles are bred for cruel laboratory experiments, which are also, today, widely reported to be failing humans too. It's time to release the dogs at Ridglan Farms, so they can live out their days surrounded by the love and freedom they so desperately need and deserve.”‌View 3 ImagesRicky Gervais said the dogs “so desperately need and deserve” love and freedom as activists prepare for a mass rescue(Image: Joseph Sinclair/FLOE )READ MORE: Ricky Gervais makes heartbreaking plea to stop separating people from their petsREAD MORE: Ricky Gervais reveals plans for next stand-up tour including title to annoy his criticsThe mass action is being publicised in advance as an “Open Rescue, with nothing to hide”, with campaigners arguing they have a legal basis under Wisconsin law to remove the animals if cruelty can be demonstrated. Activists claim the dogs are being held in 2 x 4 foot cages for years at a time and bred for laboratory testing.‌Organisers in the US say the legal case for the rescue has been set out...