First beagle from Wisconsin cruelty case finds home in Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — The first beagle rescued from a Wisconsin research breeding facility has found a new home in Southwest Florida.

Kristin Paulson of Bonita Springs adopted Annabelle, becoming the first person to adopt one of the 18 beagles taken in by Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue.

Staffers with the Fort Myers-based rescue drove to Blue Mounds, Wisconsin as part of a large rescue operation after investigators found probable cause of animal cruelty at Ridglan Farms Lab.

Paulson said seeing the story moved her to act.

"Knowing that she drove up there and got these dogs, I reached out to her and said, 'If it's meant to be, I'd love to adopt her,'" Paulson said.

Dana Bursch with the animal rescue said all the dogs in their care have had medical checkups with no major issues.

"They've got all sorts of new things to get used to including collars, wearing a leash, toys," Bursch said. "But the main thing is getting used to humans."

WINK Investigates previously reported a special prosecutor found Ridglan Farms performed procedures on the beagles that constituted animal cruelty.

The company denies it abuses animals.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue out of Palm Beach County and the Center for a Humane Economy struck a deal with Ridglan Farms to recover 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles in Ridglan's care. On Tuesday, another 135 dogs were rescued.

Bursch said the response from the Southwest Florida community has been strong.

"We've had people saying, 'Can I help volunteer? I want to help with the beagles, but maybe I can walk the other dogs too.’" Bursch said. "We've had a lot of applications."

Meanwhile, 34 bipartisan House members sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., urging him not to direct federal funds to research facilities accused of animal abuse. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) is also pushing for legislation to end medical testing on animals.

"I'm going to keep working on this until we can ensure that not one more penny of taxpayer dollars is being spent on painful experimentation of dogs and cats," Langworthy said.

Paulson is hoping other animal lovers will also step up.

"If you can't adopt, you can donate, you can foster, you can volunteer with different fundraisers," Paulson said.

If you’re interested in adopting or volunteering with either Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue or the Big Dog Ranch Rescue, visit the groups online.

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