Ridglan Farms beagles find new homes with veterans via Paws of War
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Many beagles rescued from Wisconsin’s controversial Ridglan Farms are learning how to be dogs for the first time in their lives.
Hundreds of dogs are now settling into forever homes after spending years at a breeding facility that provides animals for laboratory research; There they encounter grass, stairs, toys and affection for the first time.
“They don’t even know they’re dogs right now,” Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri said in an episode titled “My Interview with Lara Trump.”
RIDGLAN FARMS BEAGLES BEGAN LEAVING THE WISCONSIN FACILITY AFTER RESCUE GROUPS CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR RELEASE
A pair of beagles stands next to an anti-animal testing banner. (Photo: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“They came in, [and] “They come from a very, very difficult environment, but as we pass them on to families, they come into their own, as we see with adoptees.”
Misseri’s organization helps train and place shelter dogs to assist U.S. military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war. He told Fox News that after their release, the group took 10 beagle dogs into their care.
The dogs were among a group transferred from the facility after state inspectors uncovered alleged violations of animal welfare laws, prompting a rescue effort that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called “a huge win for animal welfare.”
“It was a very rewarding opportunity for this organization to be a part of this.” [rescue]’ said Misseri.
Adjusting to life outside the controversial facility takes time. Learning to step on the grass, climb stairs, and be around people poses a challenge for a while.
“When you see them and they’re locked up, that’s how they live. That’s how they lived,” Misseri explained.
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Fox News host Lara Trump speaks with Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri on an episode of “My View With Lara Trump” on Saturday, June 20. (My Interview with Lara Trump/Screen Graph)
“They were products, not dogs. We see them trembling and not knowing if we’re going to hurt them. They don’t know if they’re going to go back to where they came from. Who knows what’s going through their minds. But all we know is that they’re safe.”
But Misseri has a team behind him to help prepare the dogs for the transition.
Adoption Director Jodie Cohen described how the group helps “traumatized little souls,” from interviewing veterans and first responders to find good matches for the dogs to teaching the dogs how to perform basic skills.
“They’ve never been walked on a leash, so we have to carry them,” he said.
“We have to teach them how to go potty. We teach them to keep their runs clean and basically get them ready for adoption. And then when the dogs are adopted, they can participate in our free group obedience training. Our adopters go home with hundreds of dollars worth of supplies and make friends for life, so it’s not just about adopting the dog, it’s about building relationships, and that’s why our program is so different.”
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The organization says the program is designed to help both the animals and the people who adopt them recover from trauma and build trust together.
“Lives change at both ends of the leash, and it really does,” Misseri said.
“It’s making tremendous, tremendous progress, and that’s why we wake up every morning knowing we can do it again.
