STAMFORD — When 10 beagles released from Wisconsin breeding and research facility arrived in Connecticut last Saturday, volunteers with Lucky Dog Refuge were shocked by how quickly the dogs took to being showered with love and affection. 

"This was their first moment outside of a crate ever — Saturday night at like 1 a.m. when we got back to the rescue," Lucky Dog Refuge board member Kristen Roeckle said. 

The Stamford-based rescue group took in 10 beagles released from Ridglan Farms, a commercial breeding facility near Madison, Wisconsin, that supplies beagles for laboratory testing. The facility recently became the focus of national attention following protests, allegations of animal mistreatment, and massive rescue effort involving organizations across the country. 

Lucky Dog has already found homes for six of the dogs. The remaining four are being placed through Stamford-based foster rescue organization Project Precious. 
​

The 10 dogs were among the first of roughly 1,500 dogs removed from Ridglan Farms under a confidential agreement negotiated by Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida and the Center for a Humane Economy in Maryland. 

Big Dog Ranch Rescue, based in Loxahatchee, Florida, brokered the deal through it's legal team.

The first group of approximately 300 beagles were released last weekend and flown to various locations across the country, including 16 that arrived in Essex County Airport in New Jersey and were met by Lucky Dog volunteers. 

Additional batches of dogs were flown out over the next few days at a pace of roughly 300 per day, with the final transfers completed Thursday.

Pilots To The Rescue, an animal rescue nonprofit that relocates animals in danger from natural disasters or at risk of being euthanized due to overcrowding in shelters, had been transporting the dogs nationwide.

Regional rescue organizations are coordinating the distribution effort, with New York City Second Chance Rescue overseeing placements throughout the Northeast and partnering with local rescue groups such as Lucky Dog Refuge. 

Before being transported to shelters and rescue organizations, the dogs had to be vaccinated, microchipped and medically evaluated as part of the relocation effort. Some will also need to be spayed or neutered.

"This was truly an unprecedented and unplanned moment. We all only had like 24 hours' notice," Roeckle said.

​​Ridglan Farms drew widespread scrutiny last month after activists staged protests and break-ins at the Wisconsin facility that ended in tear gas and rubber bullets. Animal welfare advocates say beagles are frequently used for testing because of their small size and notably gentle, trusting temperament.

Authorities said dozens of people could face charges connected to another break-in earlier this year, while activists have accused police of using excessive force during a subsequent protest involving about 1,000 demonstrators. 

The facility agreed last year to surrender its breeding license as part of a deal to avoid prosecution over felony animal mistreatment allegations. A special prosecutor concluded the facility had preformed painful eye procedures without anesthetic that violated state veterinary standards, though Ridglan Farms has denied mistreating animals. 

"Lucky Dog Refuge is honored to help provide a second chance to beagles recused from the Ridglan breeding facility," Lucky Dog co-founder and CEO Kirstin Mende said. 

"These dogs were sadly bred solely for laboratory testing and had never known many of life's simplest joys — grass beneath their paws, toys to play with, or affection from loving hands," Mende said. "Watching them experience kindness, the outdoors, and play for the very first time had been profoundly moving. Despite everything they endured, they have met this new world with trust, joy, and resilience." 

Mende also credited the organizations and volunteers coordinating the multistate rescue operation. 

"We are deeply grateful to our friends at New York City Second Chance Rescue for spearheading this lifesaving effort on behalf of rescues in our area and entrusting Lucky Dog with the care of these deserving beagles," she said. "We are equally thankful to the incredible volunteers with Pilots To The Rescue, whose freedom flight made their journey possible."