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Animal rights activists are planning a large-scale raid on a Wisconsin facility that breeds thousands of beagles for medical and scientific research.
Ridgland Farms, located roughly 30 miles outside of Madison, had previously been under investigation after former employees came forward with testimony about the mistreatment of animals there.
As part of a settlement with the state, the facility agreed to surrender its license to sell dogs to outside research firms by July.
Now, activists say more than 1,700 people have signed up for what they are describing as a nonviolent operation aimed at removing as many dogs as possible this Sunday.
More than two dozen people were arrested last month when activists went to the property and took 23 dogs.
Now facing a potentially much larger crowd, Ridgland Farms is making defensive preparations.
They’ve erected wire fencing, hay bales, and dug trenches filled with rock and manure. The activists have informed the local sheriff’s department about their plans.
