Ridglan Farms Lead Veterinarian ‘Permanently Revoked’

Richard Van Domelen, the lead veterinarian and facility manager at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin, has had his Veterinary license permanently revoked by the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board for unprofessional conduct. The board found that Van Domelen improperly delegated hundreds of surgical procedures, including eye surgeries, vocal cord removals, and dental extractions, to unlicensed personnel, with evidence that some procedures were performed without proper anesthesia.

Van Domelen agreed in May 2026 to stop contesting the charges and voluntarily surrender his license, but the board officially approved the permanent revocation on July 28. Animal welfare advocate Amy Van Aartsen of The Marty Project welcomed the decision, describing the practices as animal cruelty rather than a debate over animal research. Ridglan Farms, a longtime breeder of beagles for scientific research, has already surrendered its state and federal breeding licenses, and nearly 2,000 dogs have been released to rescue organizations. The remaining beagles are expected to leave the facility in August.