Madison reunion marks Ridglan Farms closure and renews fight against animal testing
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The closing of Ridglan Farms led to the release of over two thousand beagles that were used for animal testing. That closure captivated the nation. To celebrate that closure dozens of animal activists and lovers gathered in Madison on Saturday for a reunion with a renewed focus to free more beagles from another facility with steps to do so already taking place.
The group's next target is to shut down Marshall Bioresources, which breeds an estimated 16,000+ beagles annually for U.S. laboratories, according to the activists.
“We just released a criminal complaint against the largest facility of them all in upstate New York showing that dogs are literally injected with toxic chemicals leaving them thrashing and screaming on laboratory and breeding facility tables as if they burned alive,” said Wayne Hsiung, the Co-Founder of the Simple Heart initiative.
Wayne Hsiung has been an animal activist for years. His organization, The Simple Heart Initiative, is an organization dedicated to ending all animal testing. On the organization’s website it states that it is a nonprofit organization that uses storytelling, training, and impact litigation to build a world where animals are free from exploitation and cruelty.
“The more people know about what’s happening at Marshal and Ridglan, the better off we all are,” Hsiung said. “I mean I was struck by the representative saying even he who lives a few minutes from Ridglan didn’t really know much about the facility until these demonstrations brought the public attention to the fact that thousands of dogs are trapped in cages and suffering criminal abuse.”
Hsiung was in attendance on Saturday in Madison. Many credit him for bringing awareness to Ridglan Farms and its ultimate closure by leading an open-air rescue that caught the nation’s attention, including Congressman Mark Pocan who has now authored legislation to stop animal testing in the United States.
Wayne Hsiung
“Working with Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York, a Republican, we want to show that there is strong bi-partisan support to stop testing on cats and dogs there are enough other methods in 2026 that you can do to have actually even more scientific validity for tests,” Congressman Pocan (D) Madison said.
While those in attendance acknowledge Ridglan closing is a happy ending, some are still facing felony charges. Hsiung is facing several felonies in Dane County due to the open-air rescues attempt, which he says he is ready to face.
“I would like to go to trial that might sound a little crazy because I am facing 31 years in prison but my view the more the public actually get to deliberate on these issues the more our side wins," Hsiung said.
Congressman Mark Pocan wants to see those charges changes, he says he has been getting calls to his office about Hsiung from his constituents.
“I would hope that the DA would understand that Dane County standards are definitely not where the charges are at and I hope that they will look at that and realize there is a better path forward,” Pocan said.
As for this movements momentum the activists say they aren’t stopping until every dog in a testing facility is free and living in their forever home.
“We are planning to use every tool in the tool kit but fundamentally we are planning to harness the compassion of Americans because this is a nation of animals lovers this is a nation of dog lovers,” Hsiung said.
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