Overview
- Roughly 1,000 activists who converged Saturday on Ridglan Farms were turned back, with the sheriff reporting 29 arrests and no dogs removed.
- Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said 300 to 400 people tried to force entry and assault deputies, which led officers to deploy tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets.
- Authorities said they recovered saws, fence cutters, sledgehammers, handcuff keys and tear gas from protesters, and they arrested a driver who allegedly rammed the front gate with a pickup truck.
- After the clash, about 200 people returned Sunday without attempting another breach, and on Monday protesters gathered at the Wisconsin Capitol urging Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul to act.
- Ridglan agreed to give up its state breeding license on July 1 after a 2025 probe found veterinary-standard violations, and the facility says it still operates under a federal research license as activists cite a March break-in that removed about 30 beagles.