The Delta Animal Shelter is currently caring for four beagles rescued from Ridglan Farms, a facility in Dane County, Wisconsin, that was ordered to rehome all of its dogs after violating Wisconsin animal cruelty laws last fall.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue, a Florida-based organization, coordinated the release of approximately 1,600 dogs from Ridglan Farms. The rescue effort reached a major milestone last week when the rescue finalized an agreement to take custody of the remaining 475 beagles, bringing operations at Ridglan Farms to an end.

Six of Ridglan Farms’ beagles were transferred to Northwoods Animal Shelter in Iron River.

According to Delta Animal Shelter Operations Coordinator Vonnie Bruce, Northwoods Animal Shelter contacted the shelter seeking placement in Alger Correctional Facility’s Dawgz Adapt program for two dogs, Charlie and Linus, who were especially “shut down” and would benefit from additional socialization and training.

Two beagles are currently housed at the Delta Animal Shelter after Big Dog Ranch Rescue coordinated their rescue from Ridglan Farms, a breeding and testing facility in Wisconsin. Peanuts is a male beagle estimated to be around one or two years old. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

Fortunately, the program had room for the dogs, who are estimated to be around three to four years old, and they were quickly transferred to the facility.

After Charlie and Linus were placed in the program, Northwoods Animal Shelter reached out again to ask whether Delta Animal Shelter could take additional dogs. Although the shelter was already at capacity, staff agreed to accept two more beagles.

The latest arrivals, Sally and Peanuts, came to the shelter last week.

“They’re a little younger, so they weren’t there (Ridglan Farms) as long,” Bruce said. “We’re not thinking they’re going to need the prison program. We’re just kind of working on basic skills, like leash walking.”

Both dogs have been spayed or neutered and will soon undergo behavioral evaluations conducted by D&D Dynamics President and Trainer Sammi Grzybowski. The assessments will examine factors including food aggression, noise sensitivity and overall temperament before the dogs are made available for adoption.

Because of the breed’s strong scent-tracking instincts, adopters will be required to have fenced yards.

“Beagles tend to use their nose,” Bruce added. “These ones have never lived in a home environment, so they’re going to be very much in fight or flight mode if they were to get out.”

Bruce expects there will be strong interest in the dogs once they become available for adoption, particularly from beagle lovers.

“Beagle people are kind of like, once they have them, they have them for the rest of their life,” she said.

Those interested in following the dogs’ progress can visit the Delta Animal Shelter’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Deltaanimalshelter.nokill, for updates on their training and adoption timelines.

Donations to support the shelter’s work can be made through its website, https://deltaanimal.org/, by calling (906) 789-0230 or by visiting in person at 6975 County 426 M.5 Rd in Escanaba. The shelter is open Monday through Friday from 12 to 4 p.m.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.