The protesters, organized by the national animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere, successfully broke into Ridglan Farms on March 15 and took 22 beagles, which were subsequently adopted.
Last fall, a special prosecutor found that Ridglan Farms, about 30 miles outside Madison, the state capital, had performed procedures on the beagles that constituted animal mistreatment. But he let the company avoid prosecution on condition that it surrender its breeding license by July 1, which would end its ability to sell dogs to outside labs.
WKOW:
Ridglan Farms was cited under a Dane County ordinance for constructing a manure storage facility without a permit.
The farm says, "Ridglan Farms did not construct a manure storage facility. We took reasonable measures to protect our health research facility from the announced unlawful invasion. We dug a trench around the perimeter of the facility. This obstacle impeded a dangerous mob that sought to commit a forcible mass break-in