The La Crosse County District Attorney's Office stripped controversial beagle breeder Ridglan Farms of their breeding license on Oct. 28, 2025.
The change will go into effect by July 1, 2026 and prevent Ridglan Farms from selling dogs it bred for research. The announcement comes after approximately nine months of investigation by Tim Gruenke, a special prosecutor for the La Crosse District Attorney’s Office, after local animal activist groups Dane4Dogs and Alliance for Animals petitioned for an investigation in January.
Dane4Dogs and Ridglan farms have seven years of history, including lawsuits from both sides and complaints from Dane4Dogs to the Veterinary Examining Board (VEB) and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recently, a Dane4Dogs complaint filed to the VEB resulted in the veterinary license suspension of Ridglan Farms’ lead veterinarian, Richard Van Domelen.
“This is a 60-year-old business that is finally coming to an end and we’re so glad to have reached this milestone," Dane4Dogs President Rebekah Robinson said in an email statement to The Daily Cardinal. “Rescue organizations stand ready to help place the dogs in loving homes, and we’ll continue to use every option available to us to obtain the release of the dogs.”
In an email statement to the Cardinal, Ridglan said they will continue to play a role in veterinary research, primarily focusing on improving pet health by developing new vaccines and medications for dogs, but will no longer be breeding beagles.
“Ridglan Farms is in the process of entering a new chapter in our mission to improve the health of pets and humans alike. Despite the challenges of the past few months, we are tremendously proud of the outstanding care we provide to our animals, which play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of cutting-edge veterinary and medical treatments,” Jim Newman, a Ridglan Farms representative, said in the statement.
Lindsay Pfeiffer is the science editor for The Daily Cardinal.
