Rescued Beagles from Ridglan Farms Find New Homes

For many beagles rescued from Wisconsin’s Ridglan Farms, the journey of learning how to be dogs is just beginning. These dogs, formerly housed in a breeding facility for laboratory research, are now experiencing a world that includes grass, stairs, and affection for the first time.

Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War, explained, “They right now don’t even know they’re dogs.” The organization, featured on “My View with Lara Trump,” works to train and place shelter dogs with U.S. military veterans.

“They come in from a difficult environment, but as we transition them to families, they are coming around,” Misseri said.

Following a rescue effort initiated by state investigators uncovering violations at the facility, hundreds of beagles, including ten currently cared for by Misseri’s group, moved on to new homes. The operation was described by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a significant achievement for animal welfare.

Adapting outside the facility takes time. These dogs face the challenge of navigating stairs and interacting with humans for the first time. “When you see them shut down, that’s how they lived,” Misseri noted.

Director of Adoptions Jodie Cohen spoke about preparing these “traumatized little souls” for their new lives. The organization matches dogs with veterans and first responders, teaching basic skills from leash walking to cleanliness. “We have to carry them out and teach them how to go potty,” Cohen stated.

The adopters receive supplies and can join free group obedience training, fostering lifelong connections. “It’s not only about adopting the dog, but making relationships,” Cohen added.

The organization’s program aims to help both the animals and their adoptive families heal from trauma and build confidence together.

“The lives are being changed on both ends of the leash,” Misseri emphasized. “We wake up every morning knowing we can do it again.”