🎧 Podcast Highlights:
- Breaking news on Ridglan beagles rescue
- Inside the fight against animal testing facilities
- Emotional stories behind rescued lab beagles
- How activists pushed for this major breakthrough
- What happens next for these freed animals
WATCH ANIMAL RIGHTS HISTORY! SHARE OUT! COMMENT! A New Dawn for the Ridglan Beagles For years, Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin has been ground zero in the battle to stop the breeding of beagles for painful experimentation. Now, that narrative has shifted in a historic victory for animal welfare. In a monumental breakthrough in the "Ridglan Beagle Saga," an agreement has reportedly been reached to transfer about 1,000 beagles from the breeding facility into the compassionate hands of rescuers. This extraordinary news broke without many details which we will hopefully get NOW as a news conference begins in Madison, Wisconsin. This extraordinary deal follows a period of extreme tension and physical confrontation. On April 18th, the saga reached a fever pitch when approximately 1,000 animal activists surged toward the facility in a dramatic rescue attempt. The demonstration turned volatile as authorities deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to repel the animal lovers. The encounter left numerous would-be rescuers injured and led to multiple arrests, underscoring the desperate urgency felt by the animal advocacy community. Now, that desperation has turned into a diplomatic triumph. Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy have reportedly successfully negotiated a confidential agreement to secure the release of many of the dogs. Exactly how many? We should learn that now. This development marks a definitive turning point for animal rights in general and animal experimentation in particular as activists said they were spurred to do their own rescue after authorities failed to act despite whistleblower testimony that beagles had been subjected to painful surgical procedures without anesthesia by non-veterinarians. Leading the news conference: • Lauree Simmons, president and founder, Big Dog Ranch Rescue Wayne Pacelle, president, the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action The Road to Recovery: Scale: An estimated 1,000 beagles are being liberated from the Dane County facility, although we should get specific numbers now. Mission: Big Dog Ranch Rescue will provide immediate medical exams, vaccinations, and rehabilitation. Placement: A nationwide network of rescue partners will help place these dogs in permanent, loving homes. The press conference in Madison will provide the first full look at the logistics of this massive rescue operation. After the chaos and injury of recent weeks, this announcement offers hope of a peaceful resolution. Ridglan denies the cruelty allegations and is invited on any time.
Jane Velez-Mitchell is an award-winning journalist, TV producer and NY Times bestselling author who founded UnchainedTV, the world's premier plant-based streaming network. UnchainedTV offers 2,000 free documentaries, cooking shows, lifestyle and news programs. Download UnchainedTV free on mobile or TV streaming devices like Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. Watch online: https://watch.unchainedtv.com/browse
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TRANSCRIPT:
BREAKING Ridglan Beagles Set to be Freed! (0:02) Absolutely incredible news, everybody. (0:04) Bridgeland is releasing the dogs. (0:06) After years of campaigning and months of negotiations, (0:09) Bridgeland has just signed a deal to release the beagles at their animal testing and breeding facility (0:13) to rescue and ready to place them in loving homes. (0:16) If what I've heard from you is true, (0:20) um, (0:22) then I'll be very happy. (0:26) We don't want these dogs to spend even one more day in a cage. (0:29) We can help it. (0:30) Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible. (0:36) Extraordinary. (0:37) And the meeting is happening. (0:40) I'm going to, um, this is history in the making, people. (0:44) This news conference is starting now. (0:46) Let's see if we can join from Zoom. (1:34) Thank you for another week and a half. (1:38) We are very, very excited (1:41) about the idea of these animals (1:46) living... (1:47) Microphone. (1:48) Oh, I was preparing the microphone. (1:50) Yeah. (1:52) Okay, sorry about that. (1:57) We are very excited about these animals (2:00) who have lived in confinement, (2:04) which is a normal condition in any sort of contract breeding facility, (2:10) having an opportunity to touch soil and grass, (2:13) breathe fresh air, (2:16) and get into a loving home for the balance of their lives. (2:21) This is a tremendous celebratory moment (2:24) and one of the biggest rescues of animals from a breeding facility. (2:29) Not quite as big as Invigo, (2:32) which was the breeding facility in Virginia in 2022 (2:35) that had animals taken out of that facility. (2:39) But nonetheless, you have some shelters in the United States, (2:42) good-sized shelters, that don't handle 1,500 animals a year. (2:46) This is one big movement over the next 10 days. (2:52) And Lori and Diggo and Ranch Rescue (2:54) are going to be in charge of taking 1,000 of those animals. (2:58) And she will explain that she's going to work with her rescue partners. (3:03) And of course, she also has some fabulous facilities (3:05) that are dog-centered facilities(3:08) that will experience the joy of the settings (3:13) that you're going to provide to them. (3:16) This is really part of a larger effort (3:20) to move our nation away from eagle testing, (3:25) primate testing, and other forms of animal testing. (3:28) In 2022, the Center for Humane Economy (3:32) works with members on both sides of the aisle. (3:36) Washington, D.C., and the House and Senate (3:39) to pass the FDA Modernization Act 2.0.(3:43) That legislation eliminated an animal testing mandate (3:47) that had been in place since the Great Depression. (3:51) Since 1938, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, (3:54) and the word drug is in that statute, (3:57) required animal testing. (4:00) Dogs, primates, other animals(4:02) used over 5 or 10 or even 15 years. (4:07) It is precisely because of that federal mandate (4:09) that you saw the growth of contract breeding facilities (4:15) to supply research institutions and prong-suiting companies, (4:18) and also contract testing facilities. (4:22) And obviously, the global concern (4:25) that's been expressed recently about Ridgeland Farms, (4:28) I think, reflects the rising tide of social concern(4:31) about this broader issue. (4:35) Ridgeland, to my vantage point, (4:38) looks like it's winding down operations. (4:41) Our organizations financed the acquisition of these animals. (4:46) We did so because we were cognizant (4:49) that there was a settlement agreement (4:51) that was going to cause Ridgeland (4:55) to terminate its sales of eagles by July 1st. (4:59) We wanted to know, Lori and I did, (5:03) and the Dane County Humane Society, (5:05) and Eagle Freedom Project, (5:07) and the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, (5:11) we and so many others wanted to be sure (5:14) that these animals got to a safe place. (5:18) With this narrow runway between now and July 1st, (5:23) this guarantees them the safest circumstance (5:26) over not just these next few months, (5:29) but also in the months beyond July 1st. (5:34) It's not all of the dogs. (5:36) We are engaging in continuing discussions with Ridgeland. (5:42) We have very specific terms in the accord that we reached. (5:47) These terms are to be collegial, to be communicative, (5:52) and we are looking forward to seeing other dogs (5:56) come out of the facility, (5:58) but this is a large chunk of them. (6:02) I must say that in my mind, (6:04) I think about Marshall Bioresources. (6:07) This is a contract for each facility (6:09) in Wayne County, New York, (6:12) that has 20,000 eagles at this facility. (6:16) 20,000 is ten times the size of Ridgeland numerically (6:21) in terms of the number of animals there. (6:24) And the only way we're going to solve this problem (6:26) is if the United States takes the next set of steps (6:31) to defund grantmaking to research institutions(6:38) and others that are using eagles and primates (6:42) and other animals. (6:44) This system of testing is broken. (6:47) It's been broken for a very long time. (6:50) The data show that in more than 90% of cases (6:53) where a new drug passes muster in ten years of animal tests, (7:00) when it then goes to human clinical trials, (7:02) it fails more than 90% of the time. (7:05) You know, the NBA playoffs are happening now. (7:08) If you had a free-throw shooter (7:09) who hit one of every ten free throws, (7:13) that person, that player would be on the bench. (7:16) Why is a 92% failure rate considered some sort of success? (7:21) And the reality is the world is moving ahead. (7:25) We have innovation in every part of our economy. (7:28) In transportation, communications, aviation. (7:35) Does anything today in any of those realms (7:37) look like it did in 1938 (7:40) when we passed the federal food, drug, and cosmetics act (7:43) with this animal testing standard?(7:46) No, it does not. (7:48) We now have organs on a chip. (7:50) These are human cells that are aggregated (7:53) in a microphysiological system (7:55) to replicate what a human liver would do with a drug or a kidney.(8:01) We have organonics. (8:04) We have AI that can look at all of the data (8:07) that exists all over the world on a drug (8:10) and quickly deliver outcomes that are understandable (8:14) and give us a pathway for safer testing. (8:18) The idea that we don't have alternatives is absurd, (8:23) especially when you consider that the baseline (8:25) is so deeply flawed. (8:29) So we are calling, (8:31) and I know Lori has already done this, (8:33) and I know she's going to say a word about this, (8:34) but we are asking this federal administration (8:38) and its public health agencies, (8:40) who have actually made the most important set of statements ever (8:44) by any administration, (8:47) the best statements in moving away from animal testing, (8:50) we're asking them to put those principles into practice (8:54) because we cannot rescue our way out of these problems. (8:59) We need front-end solutions (9:01) in order to protect these animals (9:04) from treatment broadly that is unacceptable in our modern Europe. (9:11) And when you have superior alternatives, (9:14) you must choose them because the animals' lives matter. (9:19) They matter to them as much as our lives matter to us. (9:23) And before I turn this over to Lori, (9:26) I just want to say that not only are we excited to work with her (9:31) which has done so much important work. (9:34) Thank you for all the life-saving work that you've done. (9:37) I want to thank also our partners here. (9:41) Shannon Keith with Beagle Freedom Project is not here, (9:44) but Shannon does a super job(9:47) in caring for beagles in particular, (9:49) has protocols that we will be following. (9:52) I know Lori's standards are going to be tip-top (9:54) in terms of her overseeing 1,000 of the dogs moving into adoption. (10:00) We have Eileen Rivets here from the Wisconsin Puppy Milk Project. (10:04) Eileen, thank you for supporting this whole effort (10:08) in such a meaningful way (10:10) and helping with really every aspect of it. (10:14) We are really excited to have Pam McLeod-Smith(10:17) from the Dane County Humane Society. (10:20) Pam, thank you for your leadership at a fantastic organization. (10:25) And for the 500 dogs at the Center for Humane Economy (10:28) that we will be ultimately responsible for staging (10:31) is going to occur at the Dane County Humane Society here. (10:36) And I will also want to note (10:38) they're involved with the Wisconsin Federation of Humane Societies. (10:43) I want to also shout out Paul Collins, our Wisconsin State Director. (10:48) Paul, where are you? There you are. (10:50) And finally, I want to thank the former chair of the board (10:55) of the Dane County Humane Society (10:56) and a board member of Animal Wellness Action, (10:59) which is the other organization that I lead, Joseph Goode. (11:04) He was the attorney on a pro bono basis (11:08) who negotiated this agreement, talking with me and Lori Daly. (11:12) And, Joseph, thank you for your outstanding work (11:15) and this really exciting outcome work (11:18) for the Beagles here in Dane County. (11:21) So, Lori, thank you again, (11:23) and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. (11:28) So, hello. (11:30) I am Lori Simmons, L-A-U-R-E-E-S-I-M-M-O-N-S, (11:36) founder and president of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, (11:40) which is the largest no-kill cage-free rescue in the United States. (11:48) So, today is about doing what is right for the Beagles (11:53) and making sure these dogs are safe.(11:56) From the beginning, it was critically important to me (12:00) and all of us at Big Dog Ranch that there was a real safety net in place. (12:07) We wanted a structured, responsible plan (12:11) that guarantees every one of these dogs is safely transitioned (12:16) into the care of reputable, fully vetted rescue organizations, (12:23) including ourselves. (12:25) Places where they will receive essential medical care, (12:30) including space and neuters, (12:32) along with love and compassion that they so deserve. (12:38) All of this while being prepared for their future and loving homes. (12:43) At the end of the day, that's what matters most. (12:48) When organizations, leaders, and advocates work together, (12:54) real progress is possible. (12:57) And that's what this moment represents. (13:01) Across this entire effort, (13:04) all 1,500 of these Beagles are now beginning a new chapter, (13:10) one focused on care, stability, socialization, (13:16) and making sure every dog has the best possible outcome. (13:23) Several hundred of these dogs will be going to our two Big Dog Ranch campuses, (13:30) one in Palm Beach County, one in Alabama, (13:34) with the remaining dogs placed with our rescue partners across the country. (13:41) Organizations we know and trust. (13:45) These dogs are going to need time. (13:48) They will need patience. (13:50) They will need support as they adjust to environments (13:54) they've never experienced before. (13:58) They will learn kindness and what it means to be loved, (14:03) how to walk on a leash and see sunshine and grass beneath their feet. (14:10) We're not just moving dogs. (14:12) We are preparing them for life. (14:16) We appreciate the cooperation and coordination that make this possible, (14:23) especially the work done alongside Center for Humane Economy. (14:28) We worked together for almost a month to ensure the right plan was in place. (14:35) This is what happens when you have collaborative engagement, a shared goal. (14:42) You get solutions that save lives. (14:45) I also want to acknowledge the role that animal advocates and activists (14:52) and the public had in this. (14:55) The courage of these animal advocates and everyone who spoke up and made this possible. (15:04) It's a powerful step forward towards a much larger mission. (15:13) This is exactly what Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., (15:20) has been advocating for his Make America Healthy Again agenda. (15:25) It's about using the best, most accurate science available (15:32) to protect human and animal health. (15:36) That includes how we conduct research because the reality is science has changed. (15:44) There's growing consensus that traditional animal testing models, (15:49) including those using dogs, are not consistently predictive of human outcomes. (15:57) In fact, even the FDA has acknowledged that the vast majority of drugs (16:04) that succeed in animal testing never really translate successfully to humans. (16:12) The NIH has also acknowledged that animal models may not reliably replicate complex human diseases, (16:22) which can limit their predictive value in drug development. (16:27) It's why we are pushing so hard towards newer, more reliable ways of testing (16:35) that are based on human biology and give us far more accurate results. (16:43) This isn't just about animal welfare. It's about better science. (16:48) It's about smarter, more humane innovation without causing harm to innocent animals. (16:57) I'm calling on RFK, Jr. to open the Office of Research, Innovation, Validation, and Application, ORIBA, (17:09) to advance non-animal biomedical research methods. (17:15) We need continued action by HHS, NIH, and the FDA. (17:22) Continued investment in full implementation of programs that will accelerate this transition. (17:32) Because progress only matters if they follow through on their words they have publicly stated. (17:41) Today is an important step forward because it is part of a larger shift (17:47) in how we protect the animals and how we approach science (17:52) and in how we take responsibility for doing things more humanely and better. (18:01) At Big Dog Ranch Rescue and Center for Humane Economy, together, (18:06) we are committed to working and pushing this agenda forward humanely and collaboratively. (18:14) And most important of all, today, these dogs have a future. (18:20) Thank you to everyone who made this possible. (18:47) How can we possibly think that this method that was really enshrined in the 1930s is a good way to do science? (18:56) We have to get beyond it. (18:57) I have beagles. I've had beagles for a long time. (19:02) They're just the most trusting, incredible creatures. (19:08) And their own trust is exploited when they're used in a laboratory setting. (19:12) That's why they're used. It's because they're so compliant. (19:17) They're so obedient in this way. (19:20) I want to ask Pam, in terms of the Dane County Humane Society, (19:26) I know people want to tame dogs. (19:31) We're probably not going to have enough to go around for the demand given the incredible interest in these animals. (19:37) What should people do, Pam, to signal their interest? (19:43) Why don't you come up for a quick moment. (19:49) And joining her is Amy Good, with the Dane County Humane Society. (19:54) Hi, everybody.(19:57) So, I am short. (20:01) All right. (20:02) Dane County Humane Society is just so incredibly excited to be part of this project. (20:07) This has been happening in our backyard for so long. (20:10) And so many people have made this possible today, especially our partners here at the Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy. (20:18) So, right now, our group is going to be staging 500 of the dogs at the Dane County Humane Society once Lori's team gets their dogs off and out to all of their rescue partners. (20:31) So, stay tuned on our website at giveshelter.org. (20:35) We'll have all the information there if people are interested in adopting. (20:39) They can express their interest there. (20:41) We'll, of course, gladly accept donations to take care of these pups, because there's a lot of work to do in the days ahead to get them ready for their new homes. (20:50) And we know right now shelters and rescues everywhere are already full of animals. (20:55) No one can do this alone. (20:57) That's why we're networking with our trusted rescues and partners to get these dogs spread out throughout the United States. (21:03) But around 500 of them will be staying in the Midwest. (21:07) And we're anticipating at least 50 will be up for adoption at Dane County Humane Society in the coming weeks. (21:12) Great. Thank you, guys. (21:13) Stay up here. (21:17) You wanted to say something about your dogs? (21:20) So, approximately 300 of the dogs will go directly to our Big Dog Ranch Rescue Campuses in Florida and in Alabama. (21:33) If anybody is interested in adopting, you can go to our website at bdr.org.(21:42) Fill out an application. (21:44) They will not be ready right away. (21:46) We want to do this right. (21:48) We want to give them the time to transition, get them spayed and neutered. (21:54) We will also be releasing our rescue partners where other dogs are going throughout the nation. (22:03) Sure, there's going to be something in your state. (22:06) And we will be releasing that probably next Thursday or Friday. (22:12) All of us will need your support with donations. (22:15) This is a major undertaking. (22:19) All of the rescue partners that we send out to will also. (22:23) So, I hope you open your hearts and your homes to make this possible for a great future for all these dogs. (22:31) Thank you. (22:34) Great. (22:34) And I just want to say in closing before we take questions, I want to underscore a few of the bigger picture requests. (22:42) I want everyone to understand where this issue needs to go to protect beagles and other animals all across the country in major institutions. (22:51) And with tens of billions of dollars spent by our federal government to drive research. (22:56) The National Institutes of Health is the largest research funder in the world. (23:00) So, we're asking for an NIH funding ban on experiments that involve the use of dogs and primates.(23:07) Of course, here in King County, you have a primate research facility, one of the eight or so primary facilities. (23:15) The Department of Health and Human Services has already said that the Oregon Health Sciences University primate facility, which is the biggest primate facility, (23:23) they want to help fund that program to turn it into a primate sanctuary as an incredible template. (23:31) Second, we want the FDA to finalize the rulemaking for the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 so we can race ahead into this new environment. (23:41) The Senate passed it unanimously, the U.S. Senate. (23:43) The House leadership is delaying and dilly-dallying, and it should do so no longer. (23:49) Third, again, tied in with what's happening at the primate centers, which are funded by the United States, (23:58) moving them towards sanctuaries, and then tying that in, and Secretary Kennedy already spoke about this, (24:05) the idea of banning primate imports. (24:08) We are capturing primates in the wild in Cambodia and other nations, (24:14) and we are importing tens of thousands of them into the United States for experiments that don't work. (24:20) There are zoonotic disease risks and other risks. (24:23) So with that, my colleague, Joseph Grove, is here, and I'm going to take questions here first, (24:33) but then we'll get some in the queue there. (24:35) So please just raise your hand, and I'm glad you're starting here. (24:39) So how long has this deal been in the making, and how many dogs are left at the farm facility? (24:45) Answer that. (24:46) What's that? (24:48) Yeah, well, let me just say that with Joe Good, our attorney, we've been having discussions for quite a long time, (25:00) and I'll say that it preceded some of the activity that occurred on the grounds of Ridgeland. (25:07) We have been focused on this idea for a long, long time. (25:11) But it's a difficult process. (25:15) We don't know exactly how many animals, but my best estimate, just based on what I hear, (25:23) perhaps 500 are remaining, but I don't know, (25:26) and that is not something that Ridgeland disclosed to us in any specific circumstance. (25:32) Right behind you. (25:34) How much was the deal that you guys had to strike to rescue these dogs? (25:39) Yeah, that's a confidential matter, and we're, you know, as nonprofit organizations, we must have our resources, (25:51) but we wanted to take this moment in the period between present and July 1st to get as many dogs out. (25:58) As I said, we are very excited to continue our discussions with Ridgeland (26:04) and to find an exit ramp for the remaining dogs. (26:09) Just to make sure, so you didn't say how much, you didn't pay for the dogs. (26:12) Yes, we did. (26:13) But you can't say how much. (26:14) Correct. (26:15) And by the terms of the agreement. (26:16) Yes. (26:16) Could you repeat the questions as they're asked? (26:18) Oh, yes, I will. (26:20) The question that I just answered was, there was a monetary payment. (26:28) Is that correct? (26:29) Yes, there was a monetary payment, but in terms of our agreement between the Center for Humane Economy, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, and Ridgeland Farms, (26:37) we are recommended from discussing that. (26:39) Yes, sir. (26:40) So I know Ridgeland Farms is going to have its state breeding license by July 1st, (26:43) but it does still have a license through the USDA, which is active until 2048, I guess. (26:48) Are you still concerned with Ridgeland still being in operation even after this deal goes through now?(26:53) Yeah, we, by the terms of the agreement, we're really not going to talk too much about Ridgeland. (26:58) There are a lot of other sources out there that you can consult in that regard. (27:03) But I think you heard from me and also from Lori that we want to move on, you know, beyond animal testing all over the country. (27:11) We're not picking on any one institution, and it just doesn't work. (27:17) Yes, sir. (27:18) You mentioned non-human primates. (27:20) University of Wisconsin has, in their most recent USDA annual report from 2024, more than 1,000 of them, (27:26) more than 600 involved in experiments classified as painful or causing distress. (27:32) Any message to the University of Wisconsin, what you would like to see happen with that laboratory? (27:38) Primates, you know, on the phylogenetic tree are closer to us than dogs. (27:45) They, you know, share an incredible percentage of our genetic material. (27:51) They, you know, clearly are conscious. (27:53) They have social needs. (27:55) They have specific behavioral needs as animals who live in nature and climb trees. (28:00) And it's just impossible to replicate those conditions in a laboratory animal setting, even a best sanctuary struggle to do that. (28:09) And again, my comments about the failure rate don't just apply to dogs. (28:13) And I will note that while I do believe that the public health leaders within the Trump administration (28:19) have spoken out more against animal testing than any other administration,(28:23) the prior NIH directors have said that the animal testing model is broken. (28:30) This is not the view of an animal welfare advocate. (28:34) This is the reiterating of an emerging scientific consensus that animal testing is simply not reliable. (28:40) And when you then compare it to these new methods with all of the innovation that's happening every day, (28:47) again, we shouldn't be using crank phones. (28:49) We shouldn't be using flip phones. (28:51) The world is changing. (28:53) Let's embrace this. (28:54) Was there? (28:55) Yes. (28:55) Laura Trump is on the board for Big Dog Ridge. (28:58) He obviously posted a video a couple weeks ago saying that Ridgeland had denied a $1 million deal. (29:05) So it's safe to say that this deal going through is well over a million dollars.(29:09) Can you give a rough estimate as a follow-up to that? (29:12) What is Laura Trump's role in this? (29:13) I'm going to say no, it was not over that. (29:17) I can't, as our contract says, disclose the amount. (29:25) Money was the only way we could guarantee the safe future of these dogs. (29:31) We did not want them to be sold off into other testing labs. (29:37) So lots of donors came forward, supporters and organizations that donated to both of our organizations to get these dogs released. (29:49) We cannot disclose the amount, but I can tell you that it was well under what Laura had put out there. (29:58) Laura is a huge animal advocate. (30:01) We've been working together since we started to shut down Greyhound Racing many, many years ago. (30:10) She had three big goals, one just recently passed away. (30:14) But she's a passionate animal lover and really was instrumental in putting what we call the strike force with the DOJ's office, (30:28) with Secretary Rollins from Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA, and RFK's office together to all work together to make animal welfare better. (30:43) The Trump administration is very committed to it. (30:48) If you want to see more about this, please tune in to Laura Trump's show, My View, Fox News, Saturday night, 9 o'clock Eastern time, (31:00) and you'll hear more about her feelings and her involvement in this rescue. (31:06) Yes, let me get it. (31:08) Yes, sir. (31:08) I want to get back to Ridgeland if I can. (31:10) Both of you mentioned the events over the last six weeks or so, the activists and the public pressure. (31:15) What role did that play either on your side or on Ridgeland's side in getting this deal done?(31:20) Well, I'll just speak for myself that we've been in discussions preceding any of that. (31:25) So this has been a longstanding concern of mine and of the Center for Humane Economy. (31:30) And remember, within 18 months of introduction in Congress, we got the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 passed, and the beagles were a part of that. (31:39) We've been digging into this. (31:41) Obviously, we've been concerned about beagle and marshal bioresources. (31:46) So I do think it's incredible there's been an outpouring of so many manifestations of concern about animals and testing. (31:55) I think it's a new moment there. (31:56) And I think you're seeing it with pundits, and you're seeing it with lawmakers, and you're seeing it with the public. (32:03) So it's all kind of a rising tide. (32:06) Did that add to the pressure to get the deal done? (32:08) I mean, I can't speak for Ridgeland. (32:11) You'd have to ask the folks there. (32:14) Yes. (32:15) So these beagles are going to be available for adoption. (32:18) What kind of issues are these beagles going to maybe carry with them? (32:23) What should families be prepared for when applying to adopt one of these animals? (32:27) Sure. (32:28) Lori? (32:30) And the question was, the conditions or the behavior of the animals, and how will they adjust to their new living environments? (32:39) What kind of things can adopters think about in terms of the challenges?(32:45) So any dog that has been raised in a confinement situation, a testing laboratory, a puppy mill, in cages, is going to go through a transition period. (33:00) They don't know what it's like to be in a home. (33:03) They don't know what it's like to be outside, walk on grass. (33:08) They don't know, you know, normal things that a normal dog from a normal situation, it's all new to them. (33:20) So people will need to be very patient. (33:24) They will need to understand things can turn around for each dog differently as far as time. (33:31) Some can take months. (33:34) Some can take longer. (33:35) So being prepared to have the patience, give the love, earn that trust to these dogs is very important for each person considering to give one of these dogs a home. (33:50) Each one of the rescues will start it, do the beginning, and hopefully not adopt out until they're ready. (33:58) But any adopter needs to know it's going to take love and time. (34:04) Pam, did you have anything you wanted to add to that question in general in terms of socializing animals? (34:11) If that was satisfactory, don't feel bad. (34:13) Yeah. (34:14) I think that was a great question. (34:16) Not that I thought they existed, please. (34:19) Let me ask Joseph Grove. (34:22) We've kind of favored our in-office room or in-conference room crowd here. (34:30) Let's take one or two questions from our online. (34:32) All right. (34:33) Very good. (34:34) Thank you. (34:34) From Wisconsin Public Radio, we're being asked about the very specific provisions in the agreement. (34:40) You may have already answered this regarding confidentiality, but are there provisions of the agreement you can discuss? (34:47) The question is about other terms in the agreement that we can discuss. (34:53) The answer is we're telling you everything that we can tell you. (34:57) All right. (34:58) And a follow-up to that also from Wisconsin Public Radio. (35:01) Do you believe that there will be other beagles left at Bridgeland once the purchase of 1,500 beagles goes through? (35:07) Was there an attempt to purchase more beagles? (35:10) Yes. (35:10) The question is what about the remaining beagles? (35:14) Are there beagles, and are we attempting or could we attempt to obtain custody of them? (35:22) The answer is, as I said before, yes. (35:25) We don't know how many, and we want them. (35:27) And we are excited about the idea of acquiring them, and we want to invite Bridgeland to be part of that process. (35:38) We obviously need its approval. (35:41) We're doing this through discussion and collaboration and negotiation. (35:46) And one final. (35:47) Will you clarify whether it is 1,000 or 1,500 dogs being released in this initial traunch?(35:53) There are 1,500 dogs being released in this initial agreement that was reached between Bridgeland and the Center for Humanities. (36:05) One more? (36:06) No more. (36:06) Okay. (36:07) Yes. (36:09) Obviously you've been lobbying at the federal level for a long time, so you'll get some changes. (36:14) There's a lot of things happening in the world right now. (36:16) Conference hasn't left. (36:17) How confident are you that some of these initiatives that you're advocating for can get done at the federal level? (36:23) And do you have any plans to lobby on a state level for some of the issues that are specifically facing Wisconsin? (36:29) The question is about the lobbying efforts. (36:32) And I will tell you that I'm very disappointed in House Republican leaders for not moving the FDA Modernization Act 3.0. (36:40) It has tremendous bipartisan support. (36:42) Lots of Republicans are strongly behind this legislation. (36:46) It's being led by Congressman Buddy Carter, Republican of Georgia, the former Health Committee chairman. (36:52) The Senate already passed it. (36:54) So both Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin supported it, right? (36:57) They are one of the few states that has a split delegation by party, and they both supported it, as have all the other senators. (37:05) So Congress needs to stop delaying on this issue. (37:10) This is not just an issue of animal welfare. (37:12) This is about drug pricing. (37:14) It's about the speed of delivery of drugs. (37:16) It's about adverse reactions to drugs.(37:19) I mean, this is a startling statistic. (37:21) The fourth leading cause of death in the United States is adverse reactions to drugs.(37:26) The animal tests were part of that screening process that resulted in this. (37:31) And if you watch some of these pharmaceutical ads, you see, you know, all the side effects. (37:36) It's the whole run of the narrative that's shown. (37:39) You could swallow your tongue.(37:40) You could have a heart attack. (37:42) There's all sorts of side effects from these drugs. (37:45) That system is not working for us in the United States. (37:49) Question here? (37:50) Any more? (37:51) Yes, again. (37:52) So last week following, you know, some of the activists' work, you know, the groups that were on the ground at Ridgeland said that there was a $1 million deal in the works. (38:02) Do you know, were they referring to your guys' work, or did they not have previous knowledge that this negotiation was ongoing? (38:07) Again, there were a lot of numbers that were being thrown around, and we were not discussing this with people. (38:16) This was a confidential discussion, so there was a lot of stuff flying around. (38:21) We're here to tell you that we got the best deal that we could, but we wanted those animals, and that was the bottom line for us. (38:31) To complete that answer, that was if we were to get all 2,000 of the ducks. (38:41) So this was the same. (38:42) They were talking about your guys' negotiation. (38:46) I don't know if that was part of that. (38:50) Yeah. (38:51) I think what Lori is saying is that there was some talk in general, like, what is it going to cost to get all these animals out? (39:04) And, you know, I don't know what other side discussions were happening, but I don't believe, based on Joseph Goode's conversations with the legal counsel for Ridgeland, that there were a lot of other discussions going on. (39:16) But there were a lot of people, a lot of chefs in the kitchen talking about this issue. (39:20) Yes, sir. (39:21) I want to break down the numbers as clearly as possible. (39:23) So 500 to Dane County on behalf of the Center for the Humane Economy. (39:27) I have 300 to Big Dog Ranch Rescue Campuses in Florida. (39:31) Can you tell me the other – I'm not a math guy. (39:33) That's 800. (39:34) Yes, that's another 700 that Lori will be working with her partner organization. (39:40) So she's going to take 300 at her facilities. (39:43) But just like the Center is participating with Dane County Humane and Wisconsin Puppy Bowl Project and Beagle Freedom Project, she'll be working with our rescues, too. (39:53) And then a quick follow-up. Can you tell me how many rescues total involved in this? (39:59) We are working with over 50 partner rescues that we have fully vetted and that we trust to do right by them. (40:10) We will also, as Big Dog Ranch, be a safety net for anything that doesn't work out for the rescues, (40:20) should they get something they can't deal with medically or behaviorally or in the future. (40:28) They will always have that safety net be returned to Big Dog Ranch for our 1,000 dogs. (40:36) One last question. (40:37) What's going to happen to the remaining dogs that are in the facility? (40:44) I received a press release from PBS saying that they might end up at some facility in Tennessee, another research facility. (40:52) I don't know if there's any truth to that or not. (40:53) The question is, what about the disposition of the remaining dogs? (40:57) And we simply don't know. (40:59) All I can tell you is that we continue to feel great urgency in trying to secure those dogs, (41:06) and we will find a home for every single one of them. (41:10) A quick follow-up for Dane County. (41:12) Wisconsin Humane Society just found information saying they were going to get 150 dogs.(41:16) Is that part of the 500 that you're rescuing? (41:18) Yes. We are working with Beagle Freedom Project, Wisconsin Puppy Milk Project, (41:24) and the Wisconsin Federated Humane Society, which is about 40 shelters throughout Wisconsin. (41:29) And then Wisconsin Humane is taking many of them as well. (41:33) Lots of partners in Wisconsin who are going to be watching after these Wisconsin dogs. (41:37) Okay. Thank you all very much for joining us. (41:42) Thank you to those of you online. (41:45) And you can reach me at Wayne at AnimalWellnessAction.org. (41:50) Lori, what's the contact for you?(41:54) Lori, L-A-U-R-E-D dot Simmons, S-I-M-M-O-N-S, B-D-R-R dot org. (42:03) Thank you. (42:04) Thank you all very much. (42:06) Appreciate you being here. (42:07) Have a good day. (42:18) You're muted, Jane. (42:24) Absolutely extraordinary. (42:25) Want to do a round, Robin. (42:26) And starting with Allison, Melody, you were there.(42:32) You were part of the attempted rescue that was foiled. (42:36) You've defended it on Fox News. (42:38) Tell us your reaction to this. (42:42) I'm celebrating today. (42:44) I know we have a lot of work to do, but I'm absolutely celebrating the release of the beagles. (42:48) We went there. (42:49) We got tear gas for these beagles. (42:51) We left with no beagles. (42:53) And it was the biggest heartbreak because there were so many of us who had gone together. (42:58) And we were sure we were walking away with rescuing beagles. (43:02) So to go home and not be able to have that happen was absolutely devastating. (43:06) So this is great news. (43:08) We know that there's still some issues. (43:10) What's going to happen to the rest of the beagles? (43:11) We will not fight until every single one of them is free. (43:15) But today I am raising a glass and celebrating their release.(43:18) I'm so happy. (43:19) I have to ask you a follow-up. (43:22) It was implied that, oh, this was going on before the foiled rescue that you were a part of. (43:28) But the timing is very interesting, isn't it? (43:31) So I would want to get your thoughts on that. (43:34) Because if these discussions are ongoing, it was the kind of implication was that was not really part of the process. (43:41) But it's happening right after the foiled attempted rescue that involved tear gas and rubber bullets used by the police on the attempted rescuers, including yourself, at least tear gas, got global media attention. (43:57) Yeah, well, we absolutely raised awareness, didn't we? (43:59) You know, like we showed up peacefully and then they showed up violently. (44:03) So that made national headlines. (44:05) So the public pressure worked, Jane. (44:07) That is the success of this story. (44:09) You know, the day that we were there, we didn't get the beagles out and that was absolutely heartbreaking. (44:13) But the success here is that the public pressure led to them forcing to make a deal. (44:18) Now, when we were there on the ground that day, we got news that someone, I don't think we knew it was Laura at the time, had offered a million dollars. (44:26) And we were thrilled because we thought that day they were going to release beagles.(44:30) What I think happened is they were like, we're not going to release beagles to this group of people, but we're going to make a deal somewhere else. (44:37) That's, you know, kind of what I believe happened. (44:40) I don't know that for a fact. (44:42) Well, it's all very extraordinary. (44:45) And would you agree we're watching animal rights history in action? (44:49) We are absolutely a big part of history. (44:51) We're on the right side of history. (44:53) I can't wait until everyone else realizes this.(44:56) You know, there's so many people commenting and being like, you are breaking and entering. (44:58) You should be in jail. (44:59) And they are on the wrong side of this issue. (45:01) Right, Jane? (45:02) We are on the right side of history. (45:03) And I know that this public pressure, all of these actions, this history is going to lead to the systemic change that we need in this country and all countries to end animal testing for good.(45:13) And then we'll come for factory farming. (45:16) We have a very special guest. (45:17) We have an incredible team that has been watching. (45:20) But I got to go to Shannon Keith of Beagle Freedom Project. (45:24) She is taking some of the animals of the beagles. (45:27) She has been on the forefront for decades of animal rescue in general, beagle rescue in particular. (45:35) Shannon, what is your emotional reaction to the announcement that 1,500 beagles are going to get out? (45:41) And how many are you taking? (45:43) Hi, Jane. (45:44) And excuse my voice. (45:46) I've been a little bit sick. (45:47) Thank you so much for having me. (45:50) Super extraordinarily happy. (45:52) This has been an ongoing battle, if you will, and fight. (45:59) I am so excited about it.(46:01) Very thankful to everybody involved who's been working so hard to fight for the rights of these animals and to be a voice for those who cannot be heard. (46:13) We've been working sort of behind the scenes for a very long time. (46:16) We haven't been able to say anything. (46:18) So we're so excited that today we can finally say something. (46:21) So we were asked to partner with Center for Humane Economy to be the group organizing the distribution, the release and distribution and rehoming of 500 beagles. (46:33) So we are overseeing the 500 beagles, making sure that they go to amazing homes and to humane societies that fit within our stringent standards. (46:43) Since we know what these beagles go through. (46:47) We know that they need to be in specialized homes and we have specialized care guides for everybody. (46:53) So we're really excited about that. (46:55) Now, you have been on entertainment tonight when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry adopted one of the beagles. (47:03) I remember I rushed over to your house breaking news. (47:07) What is the process and the timeline? (47:09) How soon do you expect to see these beagles? (47:12) You're based in Los Angeles. (47:14) When do you think you'll see the first beagles coming in? (47:17) Yeah. (47:18) So our team is going in right after Lori's team from Big Dog Ranch. (47:23) They're going in to get their thousand beagles. (47:26) And then our team at Beagle Freedom Project with our partners, Dame County Humane Society, Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project. (47:33) We're going in on the 11th. (47:37) And so we'll be able to get all of our beagles then. (47:41) And many of them are going to our sanctuary, Freedom Fields, in Oklahoma. (47:46) And they are all going to be up for adoption. (47:49) So when you say going in, are you saying going actually to Ridgeland Farms? (47:54) Yes. (47:55) So you, Shannon Keith, are going to go to Ridgeland Farms and you're going to go to those gates where so many people were tear gassed. (48:02) And you're going to just take these dogs out. (48:06) Yes. (48:07) Yeah, it's a little nerve wracking, the thought of doing it. (48:12) But we're really excited to be able to do that, to be able to go in. (48:16) Obviously, there are terms around that, that, you know, there's a gag order we can't disclose. (48:23) But we will be going in with vehicles to get those dogs and then bring them over to our partner facility, Dame County Humane Society, where we're going to be doing triage. (48:34) We have veterinarians on hand who will be administering vaccinations and we'll be microchipping, making sure everybody's OK, taking care of them and doing all that needs to be done up to our standards. (48:48) And then we'll be transitioning them into homes. (48:52) This is Animal Rights History and Shannon Keith, you are always part of it. (48:58) An amazing documentary producer as well. (49:01) Just an all around leader in the fight for animal rights. (49:07) Who do I go to next? (49:09) I think Carla Cabral. (49:10) We got to get your reaction. (49:12) You have also devoted your life to rescuing animals in general and beagles specifically. (49:20) Your reaction. (49:22) Everybody, please unmute before you speak. (49:26) Yeah, absolutely. (49:27) I am beyond elated. (49:30) I mean, of course, I have tons of feelings and I could talk for hours about everything.(49:38) But today, as was stated, today is a huge victory. (49:44) We just wanted any beagles that we could rescue and to know that fifteen hundred of them are coming out of there. (49:54) You know, I was a former research scientist. (49:58) I experimented on mice. (50:01) And so I love to to talk about that and the transition and how important it is. (50:06) It was music to my ears to hear them in such a venue, talk about the alternatives and talk about ending animal testing. (50:17) Of course, you know, knowing about primates and beagles and yelling from the rooftops about how we really could be making meaningful change for everybody, meaningful progress. (50:31) But we need to move away from animal testing, not just the primates and beagles, but all of the animal testing. (50:38) There are billions of animals. (50:40) There are animals that aren't even counted because we use and kill so many of them. (50:45) And it was fantastic to hear that on the news, you know, going out to everybody. (50:52) I will leave it there other than to say that, you know, I believe it's a little disingenuous to think that our actions did not spur this on to to get this done faster. (51:06) I am fine being the bad guy, having done it the wrong way. (51:10) Whatever people want to say is totally fine. (51:14) If I have to go to jail, if that's what it takes to get these beagles out of there through these negotiations, I'm thrilled. (51:23) We are always open to negotiations. (51:28) We always primarily ask if we can work in collaboration, if we can have meetings. (51:34) So I'm just so happy that this happened. (51:37) Thrilled. (51:38) And I can't wait to hear from everybody else. (51:42) Absolutely. (51:43) This, by the way, is the first mass rescue organized by Wayne Chung and also members of Direct Action Everywhere that got approximately 31 beagles out. (51:54) Approximately eight were reapprehended by police. (51:58) And this also made global news. (52:02) Then there was a second rescue attempt on April 18th that did not go as planned when law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets on many of the protesters. (52:18) Everybody, I think, pretty much got tear gas because even our four reporters on the ground felt tear gas. (52:22) But some of them had very severe beating injuries from the rubber bullets. (52:30) So that got global attention. (52:34) So then this deal now happening a very short time later, it's very interesting, the timing. (52:42) But before we get to that, I want to ask Renee Kingson, former cattle rancher turned animal sanctuary owner, a woman who exemplifies the cultural shift from animal exploitation to animal care. (53:00) Is this a moment in history? (53:03) Is this one of the big turning points in animal rights history that we've all been working for? (53:08) And I get choked up for so many decades. (53:11) I'm just I'm just on the verge of tears. (53:14) When you chatted with me last night, I was like, oh, my God. (53:18) You know, I canceled meetings. (53:20) I said, I've got to do this. (53:22) I wouldn't miss it for anything. (53:24) This moment shows just what can happen when people refuse. (53:28) They refuse to stop no matter what. (53:31) And, you know, some folks are out there putting their bodies on the line. (53:34) Some are negotiating, you know, some using their platforms. (53:37) But all of this pressure pointed in one direction, Jane, and that is get those dogs out of there. (53:46) Animals should not have to be bought, bargained for, negotiated out of suffering. (53:52) The suffering that these animals have endured should not be negotiated. (53:56) And it just it just blows my mind. (54:00) You know, when these living beings are living in cages in these kind of extreme, horrible conditions, you do what you have to do to knock the door open. (54:12) And so the combined efforts have just been extraordinary. (54:15) This is not just a story about, you know, some dogs. (54:19) It's a story about the system that is broken. (54:22) These dogs were born like so many animals into a pipeline that treats their bodies like products, like units of production. (54:32) And that same way of thinking, that same mindset is what I walked away from on that cattle ranch that became Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. (54:42) It is not easy, Jane, to walk away from a system of normalized violence, knowing that your life could be on the line. (54:50) Knowing that all these systems are looking at you like, who do you think you are? (54:56) And what's powerful here is that this broke through all those usual walls.(55:01) You know, the activists, the rescue organizations, the media, and now even the political voices, goodness gracious, are coming out. (55:10) Look at all of this. (55:12) All these different sides are all coming together because they all see what is wrong. (55:17) They're all saying the same thing. (55:19) This is not right. (55:20) It's wrong. (55:22) But we, you know, we cannot stop at rescue. (55:26) We got to keep going. (55:28) Liberation is the answer. (55:30) If it takes arrest, if it takes the media pressure, the political pressure, the rescue groups, money, just get the dogs out of those cages. (55:39) We'll be better and brave enough to ask why those cages really have to exist in the first place, Jane. (55:46) Why do these cages exist? (55:48) All for pop, for money. (55:50) All for money, greed, and power. (55:52) Back to you, Jane, and thank you so much for documenting this moment in history. (55:57) Well said. (55:58) You're choking me up and we're getting some applause as well. (56:02) You know, there are moments where you can just sense viscerally something is changing.(56:08) And before we go to our next panelist, I do want to play when Allison, who's one of our guests here, was on Fox News. (56:15) And very eloquently defended the foiled rescue that she was part of where the tear gas and the rubber bullets were used against the attempted rescuers. (56:28) That just happened on Saturday, April 18th, and now we have this major announcement.(56:33) Let's listen and talk about it on the other side. (56:35) There are some folks, including the sheriff, that said that you guys were there as activists, that you wanted to be violent. (56:40) You came in with tools. (56:41) You wanted to hurt people. (56:42) You wanted to attack law enforcement. (56:44) Tell me what really happened yesterday. (56:46) Tommy, that could not be further from the truth. (56:49) We came with peace and love in our hearts because we knew that these Beagles needed to be rescued. (56:54) There is a lot of media saying that we came violently. (56:57) Look at me. (56:57) Do I look violent? (56:59) Do I have a weapon? (56:59) No. (57:00) I don't even know how to do that. (57:01) I'm a law-abiding citizen who just wanted to get the Beagles out. (57:04) And so the lies that we're seeing by the media are really abhorrent. (57:07) And we were there peacefully and lovingly, and we had no intention whatsoever to harm anyone. (57:14) All we wanted to do was get those dogs out. (57:18) Wow, really well said. (57:20) And Allison, I want to go back to you for a second, because what I saw watching that clip was the mainstreaming of animal rights, the rebranding of animal rights. (57:31) And the company, Enrichment Farms, is invited on any time. (57:36) I'd love to dialogue with them. (57:37) They deny the cruelty. (57:39) But the description of activists as extremists and radicals, painting a picture of people who are living on the fringe, out of the mainstream, and nobody could be more mainstream than you, a wellness and travel influencer. (57:58) What do you see in terms of the shift of the cultural narrative, Allison? (58:05) Well, I hope to be a part of the shift of the cultural narrative, Jane. (58:08) Because when we got in the car after the rescue mission, we were checking the news.(58:13) And I believe it was USA Today who had come out with something saying, activists turned up to violently attack police. (58:20) And for me, I was like, I don't have a weapon. (58:23) I don't know how to use a weapon. (58:24) I would never violently attack a police officer.(58:27) I came with peace and love in my heart. (58:28) So immediately, we were like, how do we shift this narrative? (58:31) Because first of all, it's not true at all. (58:34) And second of all, it really is not good for the mission. (58:37) And so those two reasons alone were why I wanted to change that message. (58:42) I am a nonviolent person. (58:43) The reason that I got involved in this action is because of Wayne Chung's theory of nonviolent direct action. (58:51) I know that activists have gotten a bad rap in the past. (58:54) That's what I wanted to change because that was not we were not doing anything violent.(58:58) Yes, we did have tools to break in. (59:00) I didn't personally have that. (59:01) There was other people that did. (59:03) And that's because of what we call the right to rescue. (59:05) The right to rescue is like if there is a dog in the car or a baby in the car and you're like, they're going to get overheated, they could die. (59:12) You are allowed to, quote unquote, break the law and break that window to get them out.(59:17) Right. And so that is the same theory here, that we believe that these dogs were in imminent danger because of the work of people like Scotty Gilbertson, who went undercover at Bridgeland Farms and found out the truth. (59:28) The cherry eye removal without anesthesia, the torturing of these dogs, all of the things that they were doing, like cutting out their vocal cords for no reason other than thinking the dogs barking were annoying. (59:37) So he documented the abuse. (59:39) So in our mind, we have the right to rescue because these dogs are in imminent danger. (59:43) So, yes, you know, Fox News also asked me, it looks like, you know, they showed like all the weapons and said, oh, you guys brought all these weapons. (59:50) These look like they could harm someone. And so I was trying to explain that, you know, we have the right to rescue. (59:55) And so part of the right to rescue means that we can open a fence or break into a door in order to get in. (1:00:01) And that is because we believe of the right of the right to rescue that we have learned from animal rights attorney Wayne Chung, who has done this for way longer than me. (1:00:08) I'm newer to the movement, so I'm learning from people like him every single day. (1:00:12) But that was the narrative that I wanted to shift because it was couldn't be further from the truth. (1:00:17) And moving forward, we as activists, we as rescuers, we have to be peaceful and nonviolent so that our movement is not seen as fringe and is seen as mainstream. (1:00:28) So well said. And again, wow. (1:00:31) Getting into mainstream media, I've often said you have to either get arrested, risk going to prison or get naked to get on mainstream media with animal rights. (1:00:41) And it's still holding to be the case, but at least we're getting some progress. (1:00:45) I have to go out to Mick Davoudian, who has been watching this very carefully and studying all of it. (1:00:52) Again, if you're just joining us, the breaking news is that fifteen hundred of the beagles are getting out. (1:00:58) That is the key, key thing. (1:01:01) There's two thousand beagles approximately in Ridgeland Farms and three quarters of them at least are getting out. Fifteen hundred beagles. (1:01:10) What is the significance to the greater animal rights movement? (1:01:13) Mick, because you heard Wayne Pacelli in the news conference start talking about monkeys, start talking about other lab animals, demanding that labs either be turned into sanctuaries or these animals be sent to sanctuaries. (1:01:29) Could this be the beginning of the collapse of animal experimentation? (1:01:33) Yes, absolutely. I think this is basically the first rock in the in the avalanche. (1:01:39) So I think it's on its way. But you know what? I want to take a moment, Jane, and kind of pause and look at the contrast.(1:01:47) Ten days ago, I, along with my sister, Michelle, and a few others, we were covering the action on the ground for On Chain TV Live. (1:01:56) And as you recall, we were pressed on the public sidewalk and even we were exposed to violence and we were breathing in tear gas. (1:02:06) Right. It was coming to us, even though not directly targeting us. (1:02:11) The wind was bringing it to us. We were that close. And we were watching activists being triaged with severe injuries, breathing issues, rubber bullet wounds. (1:02:22) So I want to pause for a moment and just bring it full circle. (1:02:26) The dichotomy between 10 days ago when we were on the ground breathing in tear gas, activists getting bullied and brutalized. (1:02:36) And today, 10 days ago, we got our asses kicked.(1:02:41) I mean, it was there's no other way to put it. The police basically drew a line in the sand and started going military grade on everyone. (1:02:49) So the activists, the leadership, if you recall, Paul, for example, came on and spoke about this.(1:02:57) He offered in exchange for 100 dogs to be freed for all the activists to walk away, put down everything they had, (1:03:06) any implements they had brought to break in through the barriers and just walk away in exchange for 100 dogs. (1:03:13) Here we are 10 days later and we're looking at 1500 dogs being freed. (1:03:18) That is huge. That is not a coincidence. It is a direct result of the activists showing up and putting their bodies on the line. (1:03:29) Absolutely. I don't think you can separate them. (1:03:34) And what I would say, and Tiffany, you were there as well. (1:03:38) I know you weren't as badly impacted by the tear gas, but you also experienced it. (1:03:45) It's good cop, bad cop. That's what I see happening. Good cop, bad cop. Take it away as a former police investigator. (1:03:54) Yes. Thank you, Jane. I really like what Wayne Paselli said. (1:04:01) It was the courage of everyone who stepped up. And I just think from the beginning, from Scotty, (1:04:08) the whistleblower being able to get film and video and then Wayne and Eva and Paul going in there to rescue the three original beagles and get the video out there. (1:04:19) I think it was the first time so much video of what actually is going on in there really shocked people. (1:04:25) You played the video numerous times and then going, many of us here went to Wisconsin for Wayne's trial for trial support. (1:04:34) And then at the last minute, having that canceled him, turning the tables to get a special prosecutor. (1:04:40) You covered his day in court when we were all so hopeful. (1:04:45) And then being able to the judge assigning a special prosecutor and then all the way up to the first action. (1:04:53) I believe Carla was there when they rescued the 22 beagles to all of this culminating in the in the extensive violence that was used against nonviolent peaceful protesters. (1:05:08) Ten days ago, as Mick said, and all the people who shared the post and people that donated money, (1:05:15) donated to the GO Funds so that young people could get out to help rescue the beagles. (1:05:21) All the news coverage. It's just been I think it's a new moment. It is a new moment. (1:05:26) I agree with you entirely. And one of the signs is when the politicians flip. (1:05:34) OK, and we're seeing the politicians flip toward the animal right side, leading that charge. (1:05:40) Representative Mark Pocan, who represents the district that Ridgeland is in here, he is speaking in. (1:05:49) I believe this is before a congressional hearing, but he's speaking to other members of Congress. (1:05:55) And here's what he said. Ridgeland Farms is a dog breeding and research facility located in my district in Wisconsin.(1:06:02) It currently houses about 2000 beagles and many of the dogs bred at Ridgeland Farms are used to for biomedical research, pharmaceutical testing and toxicology studies. (1:06:14) Last year, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection cited Ridgeland for 308 counts of mistreating dogs. (1:06:23) These violations included significant deficiencies in veterinary care, sanitation, housing conditions and overall treatment of the animals. (1:06:33) There were documented instances of stagnant waste and poor ventilation so severe that it made inspectors physically ill. (1:06:41) Multiple cages with rusted or broken wires caused cysts and infections. (1:06:45) And dogs were often subjected to removal of their vocal cords and certain instances allegedly without anesthesia or pain management. (1:06:54) Following the investigation, the facility agreed to a settlement to surrender its state commercial dog breeding license by July 1st of this year. (1:07:04) Even though this facility was cited for hundreds of violations demonstrating systematic and ongoing animal mistreatment, (1:07:11) this facility was allowed to maintain its USDA Class A breeder license. (1:07:17) So that is extraordinary that despite all that, basically the U.S. government has been saying nothing to see here, nothing to see here. (1:07:27) I want to go to Huratele, who is an anti-vivisection expert who actually did an extraordinary documentary about this decades ago.(1:07:36) It must be amazing for you, having fought this for decades and done a documentary about the horrors of vivisection decades ago, (1:07:45) which we're actually editing now to put on Unchained TV, to see this historic moment. (1:07:53) Where is this in history, Huratele? (1:07:55) It's massive. (1:07:56) The animal rescue action has been going on for decades, including, I would even say from a couple of hundred years ago,(1:08:05) when anti-vivisectionists started to object animal testing. (1:08:11) In the 80s, Hans Rusch wrote The Slaughter of the Innocent, Naked Empress, 1,000 Doctors Against Vivisection. (1:08:19) These were doctors and scientists who spoke about how what Wayne and Laura were talking about today, (1:08:25) that animal research doesn't work. (1:08:27) It's not about only animal welfare, which to my heart, it's a massive issue, but also it's about science. (1:08:36) It's about good science. (1:08:38) And I want to say that Carla, Tiffany, every one of you on the red team and the yellow team, (1:08:47) who put your lives on the line, you collectively and individually, under the leadership of Wayne and the other leaders, (1:08:58) are responsible for what is happening today and next week. (1:09:03) You can imagine yourself walking out with 2,000 beagles, each of you, each of you carrying 2,000 beagles out, (1:09:14) because your efforts individually is what brought the chain reaction, (1:09:21) which finally the U.S. Congress representatives are publicly talking about it, (1:09:28) about how animal research is a fraud. (1:09:33) And the cruelty to these beautiful, innocent, sentient beings is unbelievable. (1:09:43) As you heard from the congressman, the allegations, and there was a whistleblower who testified in court (1:09:49) that non-veterinarians were doing painful surgeries on dogs without anesthesia, (1:09:56) that was sort of the big headline that made it go from a case of, excuse me, well, this is bad, to, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh. (1:10:11) Eye surgeries performed without anesthesia on dogs by non-veterinarians. (1:10:18) And I have to put up Ridgeland's statement. (1:10:20) They deny, they said there's no credible evidence of abuse. (1:10:23) They call the activists extremists, and they claim that the whistleblowers lack credibility. (1:10:31) We invite them on any time to give their side of the story. (1:10:34) Meanwhile, let's not forget that the prosecution of some of those who have led the charge going into Ridgeland Farms (1:10:45) to take out the beagles continues, specifically with Wayne Shum, the leader of the Open Rescue Movement. (1:10:53) He was in court yesterday.(1:10:55) Let's play a little clip from the actual hearing, and then we're going to hear what Wayne has to say on the other side. (1:11:03) Listen carefully, because we were in court, but the sound is a little iffy. (1:11:08) The state continues to ask Parnell to ban on contact with these co-defendants. (1:11:13) And being in Dane County is the fact that Mr. Shum apparently is committed to engaging in further criminal activity(1:11:18) based on his view of what animal rights should be. (1:11:22) The state has not sought to infringe upon any of his ability to express himself, (1:11:26) to contact elected officials in Wisconsin through any other means except being in Dane County.(1:11:32) To advocate for what he believes is a righteous cause, to make public statements about his criminal case, (1:11:41) to use his criminal case as he likely will as an opportunity to raise money to fund himself and his organization. (1:11:48) We're not seeking to silence him at all. (1:11:51) We're simply asking for conditions that will eliminate the need for law enforcement response to Ridgeland Farms (1:11:57) when Mr. Shum chooses to ask people or dupe them into coming out to commit burglary. (1:12:05) So Wayne Shum took issue with the idea that he had personally duped everybody into committing burglary. (1:12:15) Here's what he had to say about what the prosecution's allegation was. (1:12:18) I just got out of court and it was our first chance to hear from the government and the prosecution of the rescuers, (1:12:24) including me, on March 15th. And it was astonishing and kind of hilarious. (1:12:31) So first, every time one of our lawyers asked anything about animal cruelty, the prosecution immediately objected. (1:12:37) And unfortunately, the judge sustained it. (1:12:39) Which shows you how scared they are of questions about animal cruelty, (1:12:43) because they know it's going to make the government look very, very bad. (1:12:46) But second, one of the funniest things that happened was the prosecutor tried to claim (1:12:50) that I had duped everyone into participating in the rescue effort. (1:12:55) This is a government that has lied repeatedly about Ridgeland being above the law,(1:12:58) that has prosecuted and attacked and assaulted people while claiming grandmothers with flowers are violent and dangerous. (1:13:06) And they're saying we are duping them. (1:13:09) They're saying we are duping them when they literally lie about grandmothers being assaulted by police officers. (1:13:15) That takes a lot of guts. (1:13:18) But the great thing is in court, at least in theory, we get a chance to respond. (1:13:23) And we're going to rush to trial as quickly as possible, get this in front of a jury, (1:13:26) and see whether a jury wants to side with the animal abusers or the animal rescuers. (1:13:32) We're going to find out. Stay tuned. (1:13:38) So despite the breaking news we have today that 1,500 dogs are getting out, (1:13:45) which is absolutely extraordinary, (1:13:47) I don't think we can forget the fact that Wayne Shung is still facing charges, as are some others. (1:13:58) But I believe he faces the most serious charges. (1:14:02) I want to ask the people who were there if they feel that Wayne Shung duped them into committing attempted burglary, (1:14:12) or however the prosecution described it. (1:14:14) Carla, if you could unmute. (1:14:16) Look, I don't mean to laugh because it's actually very serious. (1:14:20) And I think that people did feel in some ways that they were not quite prepared for the incredible brutality that was thrust upon them by the police. (1:14:35) I think that we may have been a little remiss in thinking that they would not go to such lengths against peaceful protesters. (1:14:46) And I agree as far as there were tools that were there that were meant to get into the facility. (1:14:54) That is not violence. People sometimes misunderstand. (1:14:58) Nonviolence is not passive. (1:15:01) It doesn't mean you're just doing nothing when you're nonviolent. (1:15:05) But we would never harm somebody, human or nonhuman. (1:15:11) And everyone, all of the people who were there went through training. (1:15:15) We had meetings. And the number one issue was the dogs. (1:15:20) And secondarily, nonviolence. (1:15:23) It's so important that we maintain nonviolence.(1:15:27) And everybody was well informed. (1:15:31) Nobody was duped into that. (1:15:34) If they want to say we're extremists, I say yes.(1:15:37) I'm extreme. I'm extreme in the knowledge that I have. (1:15:41) People are extreme in the knowledge that they have going forward and extreme in our beliefs. (1:15:49) But, you know, I was thinking of Claudette Colvin, if you're unfamiliar with that name, who came before Rosa Parks. (1:15:56) Both of them arrested, went to jail for sitting in a whites only seat on a bus. (1:16:04) And they had the audacity to think that they were above the law. (1:16:08) It just brought me to that when I heard what the person was, what the prosecution was saying against Wayne. (1:16:15) As far as thinking that that were above the law. (1:16:18) We have to realize where laws come from and how they've changed over time. (1:16:24) And these laws that do not grant animals rights are also going to change with time. (1:16:31) And today was a huge move forward for that. (1:16:37) Absolutely. Lindsay, we're going to get to you in a second, but I want to play. (1:16:41) Unchained TV covered the foiled attempted rescue where your gas live for nine hours.(1:16:48) And here is just a clip of a special report. (1:16:51) Those who did not see it can get a sense of how extraordinary the. (1:16:58) The actions of law enforcement were, let's just play one minute of it and then we'll discuss on the other side. (1:17:07) This is Unchained TV. (1:17:18) The whole world is watching you. (1:17:20) Do you know that in the name of Jesus? (1:17:25) The whole world is watching this.(1:17:30) The world is watching you right now. (1:17:33) Tear gas amazed me so bad. (1:17:35) That's me. (1:17:40) This is like the makeshift triage where activists are being treated for tear gas. (1:17:48) The guy in the black sprayed it right into my face. (1:17:53) This is actively tear gassing. (1:17:56) Blink in that one for me, OK? (1:17:58) Deputy sheriff came out of his truck. (1:18:01) He said, disperse, disperse. (1:18:04) I turned and he just shoved the pepper spray canister in my face and squirted me.(1:18:08) They basically just grabbed me immediately. (1:18:11) Sprayed me with pepper spray and shot me point blank with two rubber bullets right in the side. (1:18:20) I can show you if you want to see. (1:18:22) It's a little. (1:18:23) Oh, my gosh. (1:18:25) So. (1:18:26) Oh, my God. (1:18:28) I saw the bullets. (1:18:29) They're huge. (1:18:31) Were you trying to rescue a dog? (1:18:33) Yeah, I'm on red team in breach. (1:18:38) I'm worried that it's like contaminated. (1:18:40) We're going to make it worse. (1:18:51) We are alive. (1:18:53) OK, so that was and you can watch the entire 38 minutes if you like on Unchained TV. (1:19:01) It's there. (1:19:01) It's a compilation, a special news report. (1:19:05) Now, several of the people who are here right now were there. (1:19:09) So I would like to get the reaction from those folks to what was said by the prosecution.(1:19:18) Allison, I will start with you and then we'll continue on. (1:19:23) That was really good to watch, Jane. (1:19:27) Essentially, I just had a visceral reaction because I was there and I saw a lot of that(1:19:32) happening and I was tear gassed as well. (1:19:34) And it gives me like there's a PTSD to it. (1:19:37) It was really violent and really scary. (1:19:39) And so do I feel duped by leadership? (1:19:42) No. (1:19:43) Do I feel unprepared for tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray? (1:19:48) Yeah. (1:19:48) And I don't think anyone had any idea that that was a possibility. (1:19:53) I don't think that we could have possibly been prepared for that. (1:19:57) I don't think that happens regularly. (1:19:58) I don't know. (1:19:59) But I never in a million years thought we would be treated like that. (1:20:03) So I don't feel duped. (1:20:04) I felt unprepared for violence by police being committed on law abiding, nonviolent citizens. (1:20:14) Lindsay Baker, you watched and co-hosted our coverage. (1:20:19) You're also watching this, taking all this in. (1:20:22) What's the big picture as we try to put all this in the context of history, of animal (1:20:31) rights history in general, which as Horik said, is not a new phenomenon?(1:20:36) I mean, they've been breaking dogs' spinal cords to see what happened since before Christ (1:20:40) and they're still doing it. (1:20:43) Where are we today, Lindsay? (1:20:45) Well, we're a lot further along than we have been, but we still have a long way to go. (1:20:52) The mere fact that people have to resort to taking the law into their own hands just (1:20:59) to get enough attention to the subject, regardless, I'm very happy and grateful to all of the (1:21:08) organizations, but I really do feel that this current action that had just happened is the (1:21:15) most significant to what's happening right now, making that change occur. (1:21:19) But the sad fact that people have to do that and that Robert Kennedy can come on and say (1:21:28) he isn't aware of what's going on, I mean, like you said, Jane, you have to be under (1:21:33) a rock not to know what's going on. (1:21:36) The horrific stories are out there, but no one was taking action. (1:21:40) And to answer your question, now it's happening and I think it's happening for multiple reasons, (1:21:45) but it's the people that are dedicated to it, number one, but also, you know, the ability (1:21:51) for social media to get the word out there and the power of people taking matters into (1:21:57) their own hands, maybe just, you know, even if they're just doing it on social media, (1:22:01) it has a huge impact. (1:22:03) Well, you're absolutely right. (1:22:05) Social media, we're seeing the decline of broadcasting cable television. (1:22:09) One of the reasons why we started Unchained TV, which is a free nonprofit streaming television (1:22:14) network for the plant-based, cruelty-free lifestyle, which includes animal rights, which (1:22:19) includes ending vivisection, animal experimentation, is that, you know, mainstream media with its(1:22:26) commercials, which Wayne Pacelli referred to today, he talked about all the drug commercials (1:22:30) and how a huge percentage, he said the fourth leading cause of death in America is adverse (1:22:39) reaction to drugs. (1:22:41) Mick Davoudian, the reason I personally believe, having been in mainstream media for decades, (1:22:50) that they will not cover this issue until people get arrested or get naked is because (1:22:56) look at the advertisers. (1:22:58) Mainstream media is advertiser-based. (1:23:01) What are the commercials? (1:23:02) Generally, fast food and pharmaceuticals, the two industries that would collapse if (1:23:09) people woke up to the fact that we don't need to be torturing animals, we don't need (1:23:16) to be taking a lot of pills. (1:23:18) Gee, if we had a healthier diet, we could prevent a vast majority, you could argue the (1:23:25) overwhelming number of diseases and bad health outcomes that we're seeing today. (1:23:33) Yeah. (1:23:34) What else can I say other than agree with what you just said, Jane?(1:23:37) But going back to your earlier question and the prosecution's accusation that Wayne basically (1:23:45) duped folks, I personally was there. (1:23:48) I followed it from day one after the March 15 action, and there was no deceiving involved. (1:23:56) There was no duping involved. (1:23:58) It is actually pretty rich for them to say this.(1:24:01) It's quite embarrassing, to be honest. (1:24:04) It's a complete lack of responsibility. (1:24:06) The police and those in authority decided to take terrible action against peaceful activists. (1:24:16) It was completely uncalled for. (1:24:19) So instead of them saying, we made a mistake, which they know they did, they are now blaming (1:24:25) Wayne for duping folks and not knowing that they were going to be faced with bullets and tear gas. (1:24:33) That is absurd. (1:24:35) It is ridiculous. (1:24:37) It's basically, while we were on the ground, Jane, I think I mentioned this to you in private,(1:24:42) the entire few hours we were there on the ground and we were watching people getting treatment (1:24:47) in the triage areas, multiple makeshift triage areas, my main worry was, what if there's an (1:24:55) instigator among us, which we know there always are instigators in such actions, and caused a (1:25:01) problem with the cops to give them the reason to go the next level, which is to use real bullets. (1:25:08) Imagine if that had happened. (1:25:10) They would have come back and said, Wayne should have prepared people for getting killed. (1:25:15) I mean, that's absurd. (1:25:16) The level of violence they used against people holding white flowers and signs and chanting (1:25:22) free the dogs is off the charts, is a complete black eye to the authorities. (1:25:30) So, wow, my mind is blown. (1:25:33) Yeah, jump in. (1:25:35) I just wanted to mention that I was listening to the statement that Wayne made afterwards, (1:25:39) and he said that the first thing they did was arrest him. (1:25:43) And then the next thing they did was to take out the rest of the leadership. (1:25:48) So in terms of being duped, I think the whole thing was very pre-organized and orchestrated (1:25:53) to take, cut the head off of the snake, a very bad analogy, but you know what I mean? (1:25:59) So that the activists left would not know what to do. (1:26:03) And I don't think, I think they were surprised that the activists continued to move on, (1:26:07) that they were well trained enough to do that. (1:26:10) Yeah, I would add to that. (1:26:12) Lindsay is absolutely correct. (1:26:13) I would add to that. (1:26:14) Wayne mentioned multiple times in his post-action apology, which I don't think he owed, (1:26:19) but he's a gentleman, and he actually went ahead and apologized multiple times (1:26:24) for his lack of ability to predict the level of violence, which I don't think was unreasonable. (1:26:32) The violence was completely unreasonable. (1:26:34) His lack of being able to predict it was absolutely reasonable, (1:26:39) especially in light of the fact that he had been communicating(1:26:42) and the leadership had been communicating with Ridgeland and with the authorities(1:26:46) throughout the process until this action happened. (1:26:49) And all indications from the sheriff's office were that if there's no violence, (1:26:54) there will not be any violence. (1:26:56) That if people went on private property, they were subject to arrest. (1:27:00) Those are nowhere indications that we're going to use rubber bullets on you. (1:27:07) Can I jump in for a second? (1:27:14) Sorry, Jane, I can't hear you, but I guess I'm, so I also thank you all so much(1:27:19) for your kind words. (1:27:21) And I do want to say that, you know, as far as leadership, (1:27:24) you can see that even when Wayne was arrested and others were taken out, (1:27:31) I want it well known that after the March action, (1:27:35) we were inundated with people wanting to get involved. (1:27:40) People actually came to Wayne and to the organization, (1:27:44) the Simple Heart Organization and the Organization for Rescuing the Ridgeland Beagles, (1:27:49) begging us to please, how can they help? (1:27:52) How can they get involved? (1:27:54) When we said we were going back, people were more than happy. (1:27:57) They absolutely wanted to get involved. (1:27:59) And yes, there were red teams and, you know, (1:28:02) I led a green team and there were over a hundred people on the team. (1:28:07) And the number one thing was, you know, Mick, you mentioned instigators. (1:28:11) We made it very clear to keep your eyes out. (1:28:14) And if you saw anybody who was trying to cause trouble, (1:28:18) that was part of what we were trained to do, (1:28:20) is to deescalate and make sure that everything remained nonviolent. (1:28:25) So that's always been important for everybody involved in it. (1:28:29) Can you explain red team, green team, yellow team? (1:28:34) Sure. You know, different organizations use different levels. (1:28:39) Red team is people who are going to go on to the property and attempt to remove the beagles. (1:28:48) So like I was the lead of a red team the first time you saw video of that. (1:28:53) And this is part of the open, open rescue that I'm not hiding who I am. (1:29:00) Charges have been referred to many of us for this. (1:29:04) You know, this is red team. (1:29:05) We had our biohazard suits on. (1:29:08) We were doing everything we could to make sure that we were maintaining, (1:29:13) that these beagles were being cared for and being carried out gingerly. (1:29:21) The yellow team were people, the yellow team on the first session, (1:29:25) they were absolutely incredible. (1:29:26) These are people who are willing to go onto the property, (1:29:30) but did not want to actually rescue the dogs themselves. (1:29:34) Some of them ended up helping some of the red team members. (1:29:38) These are people who go on the property and they try and help, you know, (1:29:42) deflect if they can, if a worker were to come over, (1:29:46) they would try and talk to the worker so that the red team member could go away with the dog. (1:29:52) They did an excellent job. (1:29:53) At the first action, there was a gentleman from the facility who actually brandished a knife. (1:30:00) Talk about violence. (1:30:01) He brandished a knife and he ended up slashing the tires of one of our vans. (1:30:07) And it was yellow team members that immediately came up and asked this person to not be violent,(1:30:15) to please let us rescue the dogs. (1:30:18) And they, this person was trying to, they did crash into a van. (1:30:23) And the yellow team members actually put themselves in harm's way, (1:30:29) put themselves in front of this truck so that vans could leave with the dogs. (1:30:34) It was absolutely amazing. (1:30:36) And then green team, there you go. (1:30:40) That is the moment you're showing right now where a police officer actually removed one of the beagles from the van. (1:30:48) And, you know, our hearts were breaking for this beagle who was taken away. (1:30:54) But let me just add that because that happened, I was able to shut the back doors of the van. (1:31:00) And that van actually got out with beagles. (1:31:04) So victory in the face of such sadness happened that first time around. (1:31:11) And then green team are people who do not want any sort of possibility of charges. (1:31:18) And they stay on public property and just support from public property. (1:31:26) Excellent recap. (1:31:28) And yes, this was the first one. (1:31:30) And then the second one was less successful. (1:31:35) A lot more people, but the second one involves tear gas. (1:31:40) Jane, can I ask a question of Carla? (1:31:42) Sure, of course, of course. (1:31:43) So you just said something that I want you to repeat because I'm not sure I understood it.(1:31:49) So what we're watching right now, you're saying when they took this poor dog away, that was your chance. (1:31:55) You were there and you closed the door to the back of the SUV that got away. (1:32:00) I think, yeah, you can see in the video, I was trying to talk with that female police officer.(1:32:06) She was blocking activists from being able to shut the doors of the van. (1:32:11) And activists were asking her. (1:32:15) I had I had a folder that had the judge's order that there was criminal felony level, criminal animal cruelty happening at the facility, along with evidence of said cruelty. (1:32:29) And I was trying to plead with that police officer to please come with me and look at the information that I had. (1:32:39) And the hope was that she would look at the evidence and that I could get her away from the van so that we could shut the doors. (1:32:47) But she did not do so. (1:32:48) Instead, she actually pulled that crate down with the beagle in it and started to drag the beagle away. (1:32:55) And as she did so, everybody moved with her. (1:32:59) And that was the moment I was able to shut the van doors and get that van off the property and save those dogs. (1:33:06) So it was heartbreaking that that beagle. (1:33:09) And you can see in the video that poor beagle, when she pulled them down, their paw got stuck between the cage and the bottom part. (1:33:19) And the one officer was pulling on them to come out while their paw was stuck in there.(1:33:25) And it was just absolutely devastating for everyone involved, which I hope that that beagle is one of the 1500 that is coming out soon. (1:33:36) And getting back to the breaking news for those who might be joining us in progress. (1:33:42) The fantastic breaking news that we got live in Wisconsin is that 1500 beagles are getting out. (1:33:51) 1500 of the beagles. (1:33:53) All 1500 are beginning a new chapter. (1:33:56) Some are going to go to Beagle Freedom Project. (1:34:02) 500 are with Dane County.(1:34:04) Then there's going to be 300 dogs going to Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida and Alabama. (1:34:12) There is an opportunity for everyone who's interested to apply for adopting some of these beagles. (1:34:21) But what they said was that there's going to be such a demand because of the news coverage that there's going to be more people wanting to adopt than there are beagles available to adopt. (1:34:36) And to that, I say, go to your neighborhood shelter and get a dog. (1:34:41) I got little Wednesday here who's my beagle mix and who is just the queen of my household. (1:34:50) And she exemplifies how absolutely docile these beagles are and why they use them for experimentation. (1:35:00) And she's like, Mommy, I don't know. (1:35:03) This is kind of boring for me. (1:35:05) I'll let her go. (1:35:06) If you want to adopt one of these beagles, this is the website to visit to learn. (1:35:14) You could also go to Beagle Freedom Project. (1:35:16) But remember, there are so many animals being killed in shelters every day here in California and across the country. (1:35:25) So if this is inspiring you, don't wait for those beagles. (1:35:29) Go and rescue a dog that's on death row right now. (1:35:33) Oh, look at that. (1:35:34) For final thoughts, let's start with Melody and her beautiful baby. (1:35:41) Well, I had to get Lily up here when I saw your beautiful beagle because they kind of look alike, right? (1:35:46) They're both like that lemony color, light brown. (1:35:49) Yeah, I mean, Lily and my previous dog, Charlotte, she was a beagle as well. (1:35:53) And they're the reasons why I do this. (1:35:55) And they're the reasons that we know, like you said, how gentle, loving and docile they are. (1:35:59) They will forgive you no matter what you do. (1:36:01) And so they're so sweet. (1:36:02) And unfortunately, that's why they're used for testing. (1:36:04) And so we've got to get all of these beagles into loving homes that can take care of them. (1:36:08) But they are so adaptable. (1:36:10) They will learn. (1:36:11) They will understand and learn so easily. (1:36:14) I can still—she's 7 years old. (1:36:15) I can still teach her a new trick in a day, and she can do it. (1:36:18) It's really incredible.(1:36:20) So for anyone that's thinking about, can I handle the adoption of a beagle? (1:36:23) Of course, make sure that this is something you can do. (1:36:25) But they are the most wonderful, loving dogs. (1:36:28) And they are easily rehabilitated.(1:36:30) And they're great with kids. (1:36:32) So if you have a family, a beagle is a perfect family dog. (1:36:35) So I cannot wait to see all of the journeys of all of these beagles (1:36:38) and the loving homes that they get to experience and live in. (1:36:42) I can't wait for them to see the sunshine and touch the grass. (1:36:45) And I know this story isn't over, but I'm so excited for the ones that are getting out.(1:36:49) Very well said. (1:36:50) Again, 1,500 dogs, you're going to be freed from Bridgeland. (1:36:54) Let's do final thoughts, starting with Mick Davoudian, who has his baby, (1:37:00) one of three babies. (1:37:05) I'm going to unmute you. (1:37:07) Go ahead. (1:37:08) This is Peaches. (1:37:09) I call her Peachy or Patchouli. (1:37:11) She's one of our most recent rescues, only a couple of months ago. (1:37:15) And she's adjusting. (1:37:16) She's a rescue from the shelter. (1:37:19) She was on death row. (1:37:21) So she's totally adjusting and so worth it. (1:37:24) I love you, baby. (1:37:25) My final thoughts. (1:37:26) Well, clearly there's a lot more to be done. (1:37:29) You could kind of hear during the press conference the way Wayne and Laurie were speaking. (1:37:36) They seem to be very worried about saying what they're not supposed to. (1:37:41) Clearly they have some kind of a contract that spells out exactly what they cannot say.(1:37:46) At one point you heard Laurie step up and say the $1 million figure that was being thrown around (1:37:56) on the 18th of April when we were on the ground, that was for all 2,000 dogs.(1:38:02) And then you immediately saw Wayne Peselli come in and try to kind of backtrack(1:38:07) and say he's not sure if it was that. (1:38:09) So you can see there's a lot happening. (1:38:12) But it's fine. (1:38:12) As you mentioned, Jane, earlier, it's a bad cop, good cop. (1:38:16) Clearly the activists are the bad cop. (1:38:19) And we all knew that. (1:38:20) It had reached a point where to save these dogs, the action was needed. (1:38:25) And that's the only reason we are here today with these 1,500 dogs, (1:38:29) the announcement of the 1,500 dogs being released. (1:38:32) But obviously there's a lot of talks that's going to happen for the remaining dogs. (1:38:36) Fingers crossed that all of the dogs will be freed. (1:38:40) And this is just a starting point. (1:38:43) Well said. (1:38:45) Let's move final thoughts. (1:38:46) Lindsay Baker. (1:38:51) Yeah, I mean, I think everybody has kind of said it all. (1:38:55) It's incredible that 1,500 are getting out. (1:38:59) We all, our heart is still there with the rest of them. (1:39:02) And we'll continue to follow this story and do everything. (1:39:07) I will try to do everything I can to help get the word out because it's really important (1:39:12) that everybody take some action, even just sharing this out,(1:39:17) going to savethedogs.io, following Unchained TV. (1:39:22) There's so many things you can do. (1:39:24) So there's like a lot of people watching right now. (1:39:27) Please take action because it's the action of all of us that make things like this come true. (1:39:34) Excellent. (1:39:35) Well said. (1:39:37) Tiffany, your thoughts? (1:39:40) Yes, I can't leave that little baby. (1:39:42) He was red-listed at the South L.A. shelter, adopted him seven years ago. (1:39:48) But I do want to say that I watched the recording of Wayne's hearing yesterday, (1:39:55) and they were actually, the prosecution was actually showing videos from Wayne's social media (1:40:02) that showed, like, the rescued dogs playing for the first time. (1:40:07) And I thought, this is the best the prosecution can come up with? (1:40:12) Where are they going to find a jury of 12 people that do not like dogs? (1:40:17) And then to say that he duped over 1,000 activists to go in, (1:40:23) I just thought, this is the best they can come up with? (1:40:26) It was sort of a joke, if it wasn't so serious. (1:40:31) So thank you. (1:40:34) Your final thoughts, Hurek, Teli? (1:40:37) I'm very excited. (1:40:40) Except for the last few years, there was a couple of decades that I really felt that not much was happening. (1:40:47) And then with DXC's actions and Simple Heart, (1:40:51) and a lot of people coming out and learning about the fact that animal research is just not scientific, (1:40:58) it's giving me great hope that not only these sweet beagles, all of them, all of them in Ridgeland will get out, (1:41:06) but also the rats, the mice, which, by the way, are totally different biological entities, (1:41:14) and even within them, there's massive differences in how rats and mice react to drugs or other chemicals. (1:41:22) So imagine, when it comes to human beings, how unreliable and false animal research is. (1:41:29) And it's giving me great hope. (1:41:31) I think the rescue was multifaceted. (1:41:35) It starts with those sweet dogs. (1:41:38) Every one of us who has dogs, they pull a string in our hearts that show us how lovable and how sentient, (1:41:47) how beautiful and how worthy of having a good life they are. (1:41:53) And then it translates to students who refuse dissection, doctors who speak against dissection, (1:42:01) and everyday people like all of us, including those thousand plus people who showed up on the 18th, (1:42:11) who put their lives on the line. (1:42:14) I met a gentleman who had flown from North Carolina. (1:42:18) He said that he had come knowing that he could get arrested,(1:42:23) but he needed to do it in honor of his beagle who had passed away a few years ago. (1:42:31) I just spoke with another lady who actually was sitting next to me in the plane when I was flying from Florida to Wisconsin, (1:42:39) and she said to me that if it takes her getting pepper sprayed to rescue beagles, she will happily do it again. (1:42:50) Now, hopefully it won't come to that. (1:42:52) Hopefully the duping that the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, biomedical research institutions have been unleashing on the public, (1:43:03) which is that they're saving human lives, the nonsense that they're telling everybody, (1:43:08) that duping I think is dying. (1:43:12) And as more people learn about the horrors of animal research and its unscientific nature,(1:43:19) I believe that a new era is going to be ushered in when medicine relies on prevention of disease by eating vegan diet, (1:43:32) clinical research on humans who naturally come down with illnesses, (1:43:38) or our pets who naturally come down by the different diseases, and a scientific way of research. (1:43:48) And I am hoping that that day will come sooner than later. (1:43:54) Very well said. (1:43:56) And we're going to go to a final thought from Carla Cabral. (1:44:01) Unless I gave, you've already given your final thought, but what the heck, one more final thought. (1:44:07) You got to wrap it up and we'll just... (1:44:09) Yeah, I'll keep it very, very brief, Jane. (1:44:12) I just, all I have is gratitude. (1:44:16) I'm so grateful to you, Jane. (1:44:18) I'm so incredibly grateful to Unchained TV for covering this and for covering all of the actions for all of the amazing content that's available on your platform. (1:44:33) I hope everybody downloads the app and watches. (1:44:37) I'm beyond grateful. (1:44:40) I'm going to give a shout out to my red team, Bulldogs. (1:44:44) But every single person who showed up either in Wisconsin for the actions, (1:44:53) I'm grateful to all of the people who work behind the scenes that never get their kudos. (1:45:01) I'm extremely grateful for every person who shares this, (1:45:06) who makes social media content that helps spread the awareness across the world. (1:45:12) I'm extremely grateful to all the organizations who took this nearly over the finish line. (1:45:21) And I have nothing but love in my heart for all of you and everybody as we move toward a better future for everybody. (1:45:31) So well said. (1:45:33) My final thought is that dogs are the gateway to animal rights. (1:45:40) I feel right now that this is a turning point in animal rights history. (1:45:45) I know everybody on this panel has been fighting for animal rights for decades. (1:45:50) There are moments that turn the dial. (1:45:54) You know, they say first they laugh at you, then they get angry at you, then they accept you and join you. (1:46:00) Well, look at look at what happened with Richelin. (1:46:03) First, you know, ridicule, then anger in the form of tear gas and bullets and now acceptance. (1:46:10) And the fact that the government is starting to see the light. (1:46:17) Let's face it. This is big business. All you have to do is follow the money. (1:46:21) Universities want to keep vivisection going because they get a cut. (1:46:24) When any scientist so-called at a university submits for a grant and gets grant money to experiment on animals, (1:46:32) the university gets a cut. Follow the money. (1:46:35) As somebody said to me once, all these quote unquote scientists are living in their McMansions, (1:46:41) making tons of money, not advancing medical science.(1:46:45) And most of it is coming from us taxpayers. (1:46:48) Meanwhile, we've got to also subsidize all the health problems that result from the lack of scientific progress (1:46:57) and the fact that all these people are still getting sick with heart disease, with cancer, (1:47:02) and that maybe we should look at prevention. (1:47:07) Like Harry says, our diets, processed meat is officially cancer causing. (1:47:13) They're torturing animals for decades to try to find the cure for cancer. (1:47:19) Well, how about don't eat processed meat? It's cancer causing. (1:47:22) All right. I'll just say 20 some years ago when I was a local news anchor, (1:47:28) I was asked to lead a march to solve cancer. (1:47:35) And I went to lunch and I asked the lady from the unnamed big organization, tell me what you do with the money. (1:47:42) Can I ask you, do you do animal experimentation? By the time I left that restaurant, I was canceled. (1:47:48) If you ask questions, they do not want to answer and they do not want to be bothered. (1:47:58) It's a level of arrogance, entitlement, a sense that they know best, (1:48:04) even though they have not achieved medical progress, even though they are torturing billions of animals(1:48:09) and wasting taxpayer dollars at a time when people are struggling to eat and fill up their car with gas. (1:48:19) It's obscene. And I see that the powers that be are starting to see it now. (1:48:25) Why now? Well, was it because people, moms, grandmoms, aunties, old people, senior citizens, (1:48:34) teenagers, everybody were willing to get tear gassed and hit with rubber bullets? Could be. (1:48:40) But there is no stopping an idea whose time has come. (1:48:45) And I believe with the arrival of A.I., with the arrival of quantum computing that can do extraordinary calculations (1:48:55) in a minute that would take a human being or a so-called scientist torturing animals 100 years (1:49:02) and then not even get the answer. With these high tech solutions, this is truly medieval. (1:49:09) The society is changing. We are now in the modern age. (1:49:14) And that means that animal testing, animal experimentation is going to go in the dustbin of history. (1:49:22) And it's going to happen soon. We're seeing the start. This is the beginning of the end. (1:49:27) And with that, I will let you go. Thank you for joining us. (1:49:31) Please download Unchained TV for free on your phone, on your television and watch it online. (1:49:38) See you next time. We'll be live when they start bringing these beagles out. (1:49:43) So it's a vegan Netflix. OK, that's the craziest thing I've ever heard. (1:49:48) I love Unchained TV. Unchained. Unchained TV. Your life will change. It's just that easy. (1:49:53) Unchained TV has all sorts of content for everybody. Unchained TV changed my life. (1:49:59) Unchained TV is crushing it. I love Unchained TV. Unchained TV is my go-to. Unchained TV. (1:50:07) Who knew? Unchained, baby! Yay!
