Richard Van Domelen, the lead veterinarian at research beagle breeding facility Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, WI, had his license suspended by the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board (VEB) on Sept. 30.
For local animal activist groups, the suspension is a step towards shutting down Ridglan for good. The local farm has had multiple complaints filed against them with allegations of animal cruelty, including insufficient housing conditions and psychological distress.
In addition to his role as lead veterinarian, Van Domelen is also the facility manager of Ridglan Farms. The VEB suspended Van Domelen’s license after finding he delegated surgeries, such as cherry-eye removals, to unlicensed employees.
The board was petitioned in March by Dane4Dogs, a local animal activist group with a long-standing history against Ridglan Farms, as well as the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project and other animal activist groups, to revoke Van Domelen’s license. However, the board allowed him to continue practicing under certain conditions, including performing surgeries like dental extractions, spays and neuters and cherry eye removals up to “acceptable veterinary standards.”
Now, Van Domelon’s full license has been suspended, and he is no longer able to perform those surgeries.
“The suspension of Van Domelen’s license is a long-overdue acknowledgment of the suffering endured by dogs at Ridglan Farms,” Dane4Dogs President Rebekah Robinson said. “Directing unlicensed staff to perform improper, painful surgeries without proper anesthesia is a flagrant violation of both veterinary ethics and animal welfare.”
Additionally, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) referred 311 violations to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office the week prior to the suspension. A special prosecutor appointed in January continues to investigate Ridglan Farms.
Ridglan Farms said in an email statement to The Daily Cardinal there are no official findings that the research facility or its employees broke the law, and said a recent DATCP inspection found them fully in compliance with animal welfare laws.
Ridglan also said Van Domelen will remain as facility manager while they defend his license. While he can’t practice, other licensed veterinarians that work with Ridglan will take care of the dogs, according to the statement.
“We look forward to the opportunity to defend Dr. Van Domelen's record and also the reputation of Ridglan Farms, which for nearly 60 years has played an important role in the development of health advancements benefitting both animal and human patients around the globe,” Jim Newman, a representative for Ridglan Farms, said in the statement.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has used Ridglan Farms as a supplier in the past. UW-Madison spokesperson Kelly Tyrrell told the Cardinal in an email that Ridglan could still be used as a supplier for research dogs.
Dogs make up a small portion of UW-Madison research and are used for studies involving cancer prevention and organ transplant research, according to Tyrell. She emphasized UW-Madison screens each dog for mistreatment before including them in research and would look elsewhere for a supplier if they found any sign of mistreatment.
“All animals UW–Madison receives from suppliers are screened to ensure they are healthy prior to inclusion in any research,” Tyrell said. “If animals showed signs of poor condition or mistreatment, the university would take issue with that and find another supplier.”
Lindsay Pfeiffer is the science editor for The Daily Cardinal.
