Wisconsin advocates, Pocan push animal testing reforms after Ridglan Farms violations

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In the wake of the Ridglan Farm beagles’ release, attention has turned to preventing similar cases in the future. Congressman Mark Pocan is pushing for tougher federal standards for animal testing and breeding facilities, while advocates in Wisconsin are urging state lawmakers to strengthen animal testing laws.

Pocan successfully passed an amendment in the House Appropriations Committee targeting Ridglan Farms. The facility faces more than 300 state-level animal welfare violations. However, when the USDA visited the facility a few months later, the agency gave it a passing grade, seemingly contradicting what state officials found.

“The amendment that we had done in a bipartisan way is an amendment that essentially said if state does something like this and goes after the license that the federal government immediately USDA has to look at it to try to remove it’s licensure as well because otherwise you could allow it to do some things that are clearly not in the publics best interest,” Congressman Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said.

Bipartisan support is uncommon in congress. He is hopeful that Trump administration cabinet members will start taking a deeper look into these facilities due to the bipartisan nature of the issue. 

“It shows that not everything has to be red hat blue hat that you can actually just care about things and work together and get something done,” Pocan said.

At the state level, earlier this year Dane4Dogs urged lawmakers to pass the Beagle Freedom Bill. The bill would have required labs or breeders to adopt dogs out after they were done using them.

“Now as it stands it is perfectly legal for them you euthanize all of those dogs. There is no accountability there is no consequences for that those dogs are considered unfortunately property of those companies, and they can do with them what they want,” said Rebekah Robinson, founder and president of Dane4Dogs.

The bill passed out of the Assembly and a Senate committee but died on the Senate floor. Dane4Dogs said the legislation would have been a good step, but the group wants lawmakers to do even more.

“Ideally the state legislature would pass a complete ban on breeding selling and using dogs and cats for experimentation,” Robinson said.

Dane4Dogs has helped pass laws banning dog and cat experiments in seven Wisconsin cities, with four of those cities banning all animal experimentation.

“There is broad support for ending dog and cat experimentation and legislators need to move on that,” Robinson said.

Dane4Dogs surveyed a little more than 500 Wisconsin voters from different backgrounds. The poll found 94% agree dogs have a right to be free from cruelty, including 83% who strongly agree. Only 3% disagreed. The organization would like lawmakers to stop supporting testing facilities through tax benefits.

“If state tax payer dollars are going to fund experiments on dogs and cats or if there are tax subsidies or tax breaks for these corporations that are experimenting on dogs and cats we would like to see those end as well,” Robinson said.

As for Pocan, he hopes his legislation will open the conversation surrounding research facilities that use dogs for research.

“So, I am hoping that by going after DHHS and going after USDA there will be less finger pointing and maybe cooperation on how to close down bad facilities and make sure more dogs aren’t put into this kind of awful situation,” Pocan said.

Pocan said his amendment should get a vote on the floor sometime this summer. The amendment is part of the appropriations process. There are 12 appropriations bills, and they must become law by Sept. 30.

As for the remaining beagles at Ridglan Farms, Dane4Dogs said Big Dog Ranch and the Center for a Humane Economy are currently negotiating with Ridglan Farms to get them out of the facility.