{"id":4308,"date":"2026-06-15T19:34:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=4308"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:34:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:34:51","slug":"big-dog-ranch-rescue-says-animal-research-lab-to-close-remaining-beagles-to-be-freed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=4308","title":{"rendered":"Big Dog Ranch Rescue says animal research lab to close, remaining beagles to be freed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Floridians who missed out when hundreds of rescued beagles were released for adoption over the past few weeks will get another chance in the coming months.<\/p>\n

Read more DeSantis hits Florida GOP over Republican primary debate<\/a><\/p>\n

Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves and the Center for a Humane Economy announced on Monday that Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin research lab that was the subject of raucous protests, is closing and its 475 remaining beagles will soon be freed. The ranch posted on Facebook that a specially outfitted bus is on its way to Wisconsin to pick up 200 from the pack, with another bus heading north on Tuesday to transport 125. The rest are scheduled for an August release.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great day for the dogs of Ridglan, something we have been praying and working so hard for for so long,\u201d Big Dog Ranch founder Lauree Simmons said in a separate Facebook post.<\/p>\n

During a news conference on Monday in Wisconsin, Simmons said Big Dog Ranch\u2019s sites in Florida and Alabama will take in more than 325 of the dogs; the rest will be distributed to rescues around the country.<\/p>\n

The rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy had previously bought 1,635 of the farm\u2019s 2,110 beagles for what Simmons called \u201ca nominal fee.\u201d She said the agreement did not allow her to disclose the price.<\/p>\n

The beagles have proven extremely popular; Simmons said the ranch has received more than 7,000 adoption applications. The ranch took in almost 400 in April and May and another 135 earlier this month, the rest went to shelters around the country, including four elsewhere in Florida.<\/p>\n

Read more Even with a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it could take weeks or months for oil to fully flow<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the beagles that landed in South Florida, Omelette, was the source of some confusion last week as Big Dog Ranch announced the pup had escaped from his Boynton Beach home and was found dead after an apparent alligator attack. However, a few days later, Omelette was seen running across a road and was safely recovered.<\/p>\n

Ridglan Farms, which the center called \u201cthe second-largest beagle supplier to laboratories,\u201d was breeding the dogs for biomedical research. Last year, Ridglan and a special prosecutor reached a plea agreement requiring the lab to give up its commercial dog-breeding and seller\u2019s license by July 1 to avoid criminal animal-cruelty charges.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Animal rights activists broke into the farm in March and removed 22 beagles, although eight were returned by law enforcement. In April, hundreds of protesters came back and were confronted by police.<\/p>\n

The rescue on Monday asked animal rights activists to stop protesting because it said Ridglan has committed to permanently closing its dog breeding and testing operations.<\/p>\n

It will take a while to get all the beagles out. Simmons said 150 beagles, all puppies, will be freed later this summer, \u201cafter a testing protocol concludes.\u201d Simmons said the testing will consist only of temperature checks and the animals will remain \u201csafe and unharmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Azmoun\u2019s stand costs him a World Cup spot with Iran<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves and the Center for a Humane Economy announced on Monday that 475 beagles remaining at a Wisconsin research lab are about to be freed because the facility, Ridglan Farms, is closing permanently. Many will come to South Florida.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4307,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"yoast_head":"\nBig Dog Ranch Rescue says animal research lab to close, remaining beagles to be freed - Orlando Relocation Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=4308\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Big Dog Ranch Rescue says animal research lab to close, remaining beagles to be freed - Orlando Relocation Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves and the Center for a Humane Economy announced on Monday that 475 beagles remaining at a Wisconsin research lab are about to be freed because the facility, Ridglan Farms, is closing permanently. 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