A beagle rescued from a testing facility in Wisconsin has finally found his voice and howled for the very first time after hundreds were freed from spending their lives in labs and cages. Around 1,500 beagles were saved from Ridglan Farms, a notorious testing and breeding facility, as more than two dozen arrived in Minnesota and prepared for their new loving homes.
Eagle was one of the 30 dogs pulled from the facility that arrived at The Bond Between, a nonprofit animal rescue, on May 5. The scared pups were seen shaking in cages as they were taken for evaluation by the organization's veterinary team before they could be listed for adoption. Footage showed their tentative reaction to human touch as volunteers comforted them and welcomed them to safety.
Eagle's First Howl and New Life
Five days later, a heartwarming update on Eagle revealed all of the firsts the young pup got to experience since finding his freedom, including his howl. 'Every single day, we get the honor of seeing their personalities begin to shine through more and more. We get to see them have their "firsts,"' Eagle's update on social media said. 'We get to see them learn unconditional love. Your future is here and it's bright.'
A video accompanied the update, showing off Eagle's howl as well as his newfound love for toys and receiving pets from his foster family. Eagle's foster family was what is considered a 'foster failure,' after Chris and Angie Holbrook decided that Eagle would stay with them forever. They saw the scared and untrusting pup slowly unfurl and learn to love grass, toys and his foster sibling Daisy – the Holbrook's other family dog.
'He's been through so much,' Chris told the Star Tribune. 'We just didn't want to put him through anything more.' Eagle had arrived at the Holbrook's home with his paws rubbed raw from the floor of his metal cage. The pup's trust was slowly earned and Chris and Angie were eventually able to pet him, before he bloomed into what they described as a 'very smart, very lovable' dog. 'It just felt like a calling, to help these dogs,' Chris added.
Progress of Rescued Beagles
The adorable footage of Eagle's howl was followed by a one-week update detailing some of the other pups' first steps as they learn to embrace their new way of life. 'Every single beagle will have their own milestones and timeline. Some of them are progressing through their journey faster than others and some are taking their time. Their story is unique to them,' the organization wrote. 'Every little step is actually a big step… and those little steps help build their confidence every single day. While their journeys may differ, they have a lot in common. They are brave. They are loved. They got a second chance.'
A foster parent to two of the rescued pups wrote: 'They are the sweetest! Each day gets better for them. So happy that all these dogs get a second chance. Animal testing needs to stop yesterday.' Their bouncing personalities that shone through after just one week were a stark contrast to their first impressions as they arrived in Minnesota. 'It was almost eerie when they came in for intake that they were all so quiet,' Rachel Mairose, executive director of The Bond Between, told the Tribune. 'They're beagles. They're supposed to be loud, obnoxious little babies.' But now, the facility is full of 'beagle melodies' which Mairose said is a 'testament to how much two weeks can do for a little life.'
Rescue Efforts and Facility Closure
Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida, another organization that took in 300 of the rescued beagles, spayed and neutered the pups that arrived in their care before they were freed to their new families. Another 700 beagles will be sent to a Florida rescue ranch in the coming days, while the Center for a Human Economy will arrange new spots for another 500 pups from the lab. In 2025, a judge found probable cause of animal cruelty at the lab after state inspectors uncovered 300 alleged animal welfare violations. The pups were allegedly found to have endured untreated injuries and surgeries without anesthesia.
Ridglan Farms is one of America's largest beagle breeding facilities that also uses the dogs for medical research and drug testing. According to the Beagle Freedom Project, beagles are the top choice for testing because of their friendly, docile nature. Even if you hurt the pups, they are still unlikely to bite or become vicious. 'The same characteristics that make them incredible companions and family members, are why they are exploited by the animal testing industry,' the organization said.
Ridglan Farms made an agreement in October 2025 to surrender its breeding license by July 1, 2026. But animal rights activists remained outraged – some broke into the facility in March and took 22 beagles. Eight were later returned by police, the Sun Sentinel reported. The following month, hundreds of protesters swarmed Ridglan Farms, and the standoff ended with multiple arrests. The rescue team and the Center for a Humane Economy struck a deal with the lab earlier this month to rescue the 1,500 beagles.
'We are incredibly grateful to everyone who showed up in the late and early hours to welcome our transport buses and vans and help receive these dogs with such care and compassion,' the rescue center wrote on Facebook. 'Because of your prayers and generous donations, we have been able to transport 300 of these precious beagles here to begin their new journey in life. While this is a major milestone, the road ahead is still a long one,' they added.
In a statement to Fox News, the research lab addressed the abuse allegations. 'The dogs at Ridglan Farms are happy, healthy and well cared for. Publicly available USDA documentation shows this has been the case for many years. As the dogs sold this week leave our veterinary research facility, we hope they will continue to live happy lives in their new adopted homes,' they added. The president of the Center for a Humane Economy, Wayne Pacelle, praised the workers and called the arrangement 'one of the largest transfers' ever.
But each rescued beagle is slowly learning to love their freedom and live life as a happy and loved pup. Just days ago, Eagle was seen zooming around his new backyard with his sibling Daisy. 'Eagle is staying right where he belongs,' the organization wrote on Monday. 'With the family that showed him what love is. The family that showed him patience. The family that taught him trust. And with the sibling that taught him how to be a dog. Here's to more zoomies and sibling play time for Eagle. But most importantly... here's to a life filled with love.'
The Daily Mail reached out to The Bond Between, the Center for a Humane Economy, the Beagle Freedom Project, and Big Dog Ranch Rescue and attempted to reach Ridglan Farms for comment.
