On Tuesday, October 28, a Wisconsin prosecutor announced that Ridglan Farms – the second largest beagle breeding and experimentation facility – would be shutting down.
Join DxE's Zoom call on Thursday, October 30th, at 6pm PT/9pm ET at dxe.io/actioncall. Hear directly from Zoe- why she won't stop and she doesn't want you to either.
According to an email from DxE on 10/29/2025, "Ridglan announced yesterday that it will shut down its breeding operation by July 1, 2026." and "Then, the special prosecutor was about to file criminal charges of animal cruelty against Ridglan Farms when they announced they will just shut down!"
Yes, it's a victory, but it could have been better. Ridglan will continue abusing animals for another eight months, and they won't face criminal charges. They should still face criminal charges for what they've already done and will continue doing for the next eight months. Please encourage the prosecutor to file criminal charges of animal cruelty against Ridglan.
African Americans keep telling you that you shouldn't compare yourself so heavily to Dr. King and the civil rights movement and how disrespectful it is but here we are...
And you wonder why you're out of touch and your message doesn't carry anymore?
I marched with Dr. King. I wish it were true that the Truth wins out. But the miserable lives of Billions of non human animals belies that. It doesn’t mean that what Zoe and Wayne are doing is futile. They are courageous and eloquent. Wayne Johnson PhD
One tack to take converting this Ridglan energy for Zoë's appeal is that chickens are similar in various respects to beagles, and beagles and other birds are seen as 'person' enough to yield test results relevang to human persons.
I think these cases are about a blurry and mishandled understanding of sensitivities humans share with other animals. Ridglan must be pursued because whatever theories of sensitivity they work from, their work is accepted as scientifically sound, so it forms the basis of clumsy judgements like the one against Zoe. Not only must Ridglan be pursued and halted; it would be even better if reasoning about Ridglan were applied specifically to platforms in Zoe's appeal. The basic fact is that people have been generally inducted by parents into a shopper/consumer view of animal life. Their own lives become criminal and 'animal' when they break laws. Tagging people criminal is tagging them cageable/animal. This tag is a lawyer's/judge's prize possession. To guard a social order, to gain their prestige, salary and immunity to 'insult', and their right to privacy against police and mining boss bestializations, all they have to do is utilize this tag, 'criminal'(= 'animal').
I am trying to work against time to verbalize this in detail that cannot be evaded in slick old Sonoma style.
Join DxE's Zoom call on Thursday, October 30th, at 6pm PT/9pm ET at dxe.io/actioncall. Hear directly from Zoe- why she won't stop and she doesn't want you to either.
On November 1st, join the meetup: "#PerdueRescueTrial Debrief" in Berkeley or on Zoom.
Event page with details:
https://facebook.com/events/s/meetup-debriefing-the-perdue-r/891408103410646/
According to an email from DxE on 10/29/2025, "Ridglan announced yesterday that it will shut down its breeding operation by July 1, 2026." and "Then, the special prosecutor was about to file criminal charges of animal cruelty against Ridglan Farms when they announced they will just shut down!"
Yes, it's a victory, but it could have been better. Ridglan will continue abusing animals for another eight months, and they won't face criminal charges. They should still face criminal charges for what they've already done and will continue doing for the next eight months. Please encourage the prosecutor to file criminal charges of animal cruelty against Ridglan.
Your idea is a good one, if they continue for another 8-9 months then if he’s serious he’d still file the charges.
Unless they put the dogs out for adoption immediately they shouldn’t get a grace period.
Do I believe that the special prosecutor was just about to file charges?? Hmmm. Not really
Why did they arrest that pregnant lady?
African Americans keep telling you that you shouldn't compare yourself so heavily to Dr. King and the civil rights movement and how disrespectful it is but here we are...
And you wonder why you're out of touch and your message doesn't carry anymore?
That part.
Great piece, Wayne.
I marched with Dr. King. I wish it were true that the Truth wins out. But the miserable lives of Billions of non human animals belies that. It doesn’t mean that what Zoe and Wayne are doing is futile. They are courageous and eloquent. Wayne Johnson PhD
"Wayne Johnson PhD" 🤣🤣🤣
I hope the arc will quickly rebound towards justice for Zoe's sake.
I am totally disgusted by the way Zoe has been cheated! No justice for Zoe or the suffering creatures💔
Your words give me hope for the long haul, Wayne. I hope in the 8 months left animal rescue groups can find ways to give these poor beagle pups homes.
Ridglan should not be allowed to escape prosecution for crimes against dogs.
As I understand it, they will be allowed to continue harming the dogs still in their custody.
That’s a brilliant piece !! Thank you
I love those words of Martin Luther King
And he was so right !!! Truth will rise and good will always overcome evil
One tack to take converting this Ridglan energy for Zoë's appeal is that chickens are similar in various respects to beagles, and beagles and other birds are seen as 'person' enough to yield test results relevang to human persons.
Relevant
I think these cases are about a blurry and mishandled understanding of sensitivities humans share with other animals. Ridglan must be pursued because whatever theories of sensitivity they work from, their work is accepted as scientifically sound, so it forms the basis of clumsy judgements like the one against Zoe. Not only must Ridglan be pursued and halted; it would be even better if reasoning about Ridglan were applied specifically to platforms in Zoe's appeal. The basic fact is that people have been generally inducted by parents into a shopper/consumer view of animal life. Their own lives become criminal and 'animal' when they break laws. Tagging people criminal is tagging them cageable/animal. This tag is a lawyer's/judge's prize possession. To guard a social order, to gain their prestige, salary and immunity to 'insult', and their right to privacy against police and mining boss bestializations, all they have to do is utilize this tag, 'criminal'(= 'animal').
I am trying to work against time to verbalize this in detail that cannot be evaded in slick old Sonoma style.