Advocate is first to adopt Ridglan Farms beagle after 1,500 relocated from facility
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Evie McClenny and her dog Ernie are starting a new life together. Evie adopted Ernie after getting involved in the effort to relocate the Ridglan dogs a month ago. Evie came all the way from Omaha, Nebraska, to advocate for the beagles.
After following the efforts online for a few months, Evie decided to fly to Wisconsin to be a part of the group of advocates who tried to take beagles from Ridglan Farms.
She said, “I believe in science, I do. I think there is a way to do it without having outcomes like this.”
McClenny took part in what the advocates are calling the “open-air rescue,” which led to several people being arrested. While she wasn’t arrested, she says things did get physical with law enforcement.
“Myself and hundreds and hundreds of people included got brutalized by private security, the police. I mean, I was pepper sprayed in point-blank range, teargassed, zip-tied,” McClenny said.
But that didn’t stop her. She came back last week to volunteer to help with the 1,500 dogs that were taken from Ridglan Farms. And while she was doing that, she met Ernie and knew he was her dog.
“I was like, no, I need to come, I need to come back out here and be a part of helping transporting the dogs,” added McClenny. “Luckily, Big Dog Rescue was amazing, and they knew a little bit of my story, and they were like, no, you deserve to take one home.”
When she met Ernie, there was an instant connection. Now, she’s excited to show him the world.
“He is just going to explore the world. Literally, three days ago was his first time he’s ever been outside.”
Evie says she thinks Ernie’s vocal cords have been cut because he hasn’t made a sound since she got him. She will know more once she takes him to her vet back home. In the meantime, she’s looking forward to advocating for the remaining 500 dogs still at Ridglan Farms. She hopes the amount of national attention that Ridglan Farms is getting will lead to changes in the law.
“I’m incredibly happy, excited, and relieved these dogs are finally out,” McClenny said. “I’m also furious that it took hundreds of everyday people from across the country to step in when the legal system didn’t. People showed up, put their lives on hold, and many, including myself, were brutalized by excessive force for simply trying to save these dogs. Yes, we helped save these beagles. But only because the legal system failed them.”
