The Beagle Brigade
On April 29th, Big Dog Ranch Rescue and Center for a Humane Economy announced an agreement to transfer 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms. Our organization was contacted later that day to confirm selection as a rescue partner in the historic effort, and on May 5th, twenty beagles arrived in Winona — starting their path to become beloved companions.
What’s followed is a whirlwind of new adventures, ambitious challenges, heartwarming first experiences, and strong community support. Fundraising efforts began immediately, along with the call for special foster homes, and an astounding response ensued.
Animal advocates in Winona, nearby towns, and even across the country have encouraged their caretakers and kept spirits high. Over 100 foster applications were received within 48 hours and are being assessed for best fit placements.
We know there are so many caring individuals invested in the beagles’ story, cheering them on every step of the way. To share the dogs’ milestones and encourage the community to follow along, we’ve created this Beagle Brigade page for all beagle-related information, FAQs, and support options.
Explore ways to help, browse the beagle photo gallery, follow their upcoming progress timeline, and get answers to your questions!
Ready for fostering & Adoption!
Now that the beagles’ vaccination schedules are complete, they’re ready to find placements! We do want to ensure all interested parties know that a Ridglan beagle will be unlike a typical foster or adoption experience. It will be extremely rewarding, and a lot of time-intensive, hard work.
The decision to welcome one home should not be taken lightly; we encourage thoughtful self-reflection and honesty about your lifestyle, time availability, home setting, financial flexibility, and commitment to this unique experience. Scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions section for more detail about what may be expected.
If you’ve considered all the factors and are confidently interested in fostering or adopting a Ridglan beagle from WAHS, fill out the corresponding application linked below. Foster and adoption applicants are matched on a best-fit basis rather than first-come, first-served.
Due to the high volume of interest received, we’ll only be able to follow up with approved applicants selected as a possible best fit. Potential matches will be sent a form with the individual dogs’ personalities and more detailed questions for these dogs specifically.
These are the 20 beagle friends you’re supporting with each item and monetary donation!
Frequently asked questions:
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Monetary and item donation support are crucially needed. Financial contributions are welcomed through winonahumane.org/donate, and a special beagle supply wishlist is available on Amazon (tap here). Some item examples are below:
Bleach (#1 most-needed cleaning item)
Purina One Small Breed dog food
Nylabones, hard chews, and durable chew toys
Greenies Pill Pockets
Small slip leads
Pupperoni
Possible foster families can apply on winonahumane.org/fostering or winonahumane.org/dogapplication for those interested in adoption. Please note that ideal matches must possess patience, understanding, gentle guidance, and lots of TLC. This will be the beagles’ first home experience and months may pass before they feel fully at ease. Detailed fostering information is included in the tab below.
Finally, there’s something within everyone’s power to help dogs like them: advocate for cruelty-free products and an end to animal testing now. Educate yourself from reputable sources, contact representatives, and choose your products wisely.
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While adoption is of course the end goal, this has been their first introduction to nearly all life experiences and they must have a strong foundation for long-term success.
Since arriving at the shelter, our team has directed attention toward the dogs’ immediate needs, veterinary schedules, decompression, and socialization, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 maintained high-quality care for all animals within our system.
As vaccinations and spays/neuters have progressed, the beagles are now to the point of matching with fosters or adopters where they’ll continue learning, building confidence, trusting, and branching out.
While we are now accepting adoption applications for the beagles, we strongly urge individuals to check out our other adoptable dogs, too! Several have been waiting for months, they’re just as deserving of companionship, and they’re completely ready to go.
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An incredible number of applications have been received, and we’re so grateful for the outpouring of support, interest, and kindness to help the Ridglan beagles.
With that said, it’s also important that everyone fully understands what fostering or adopting will realistically involve and the specific needs these dogs may have. Hopefully with your help and guidance, they will get to the point of being comfortable, beloved house pets!
These beagles come from an environment with extremely limited exposure to normal home life. Some may be fearful, shut down, under-socialized, vocal, difficult to leash, fearful of handling, unfamiliar with stairs, grass, doors, televisions, mirrors, household sounds, windows, car rides, or being alone in a home environment.
Some may not initially seek affection or interaction from people at all. Others may panic, freeze, hide, pancake to the floor, scream/vocalize, attempt to escape, or submissively urinate when overwhelmed. None of them are considered potty trained, and accidents in the home should be fully expected.
Many will require significant decompression time, structured routine, separation anxiety support, careful management around doors and outside (due to flight risk), slow introductions, and LOTS of patience.
We are strongly prioritizing foster or adoptive homes that: can provide calm and predictable environments, have limited chaos and overstimulation, include adults or older respectful children when possible, understand long-term patience and realistic expectations, and are willing to follow WAHS handling and decompression protocols.
All veterinary care (prior to adoption) must take place through Pet Medical Center; foster homes must be willing to transport dogs to Winona, MN for any vaccinations, surgeries, dental care, check-ups, and potential adopter meet-and-greets. Every beagle available for adoption will have their full pre-adoption veterinary care complete before going home. Once adoption is complete, adopters are welcome to establish care through their current vet or office of their choice.
We realize this is a lot of information to intake, and value everyone’s thoughtfulness in carefully considering their lifestyle match. The ultimate goal is securing loving environments for the beagles to safely decompress, heal, and begin learning what normal life looks like.
If you’ve considered the details above and feel you are the person to help along their journey, we invite you to apply on winonahumane.org/fosteringfor strictly fostering, or winonahumane.org/dogapplicationfor adopting.
