Julie, Anna, and Lucy: The 2017 Ridglan Rescue
The Entry
On the night of April 17, 2017, Wayne Hsiung, Eva Hamer, and Paul Darwin Picklesimer entered Ridglan Farms — a Class A USDA-licensed beagle breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. They carried cameras.
Inside, they documented rows of stacked metal and wire cages in windowless sheds. Dogs barked and clawed at cage walls. A puppy spun repeatedly — a stereotypic behavior associated with severe psychological distress. Dogs sat in filth with untreated wounds. Their feet were red and swollen from standing on wire mesh floors.
They removed three beagles. The dogs were later named Julie, Anna, and Lucy.
Julie (DSP-6): The Symbol
Julie's Ridglan identifier was “DSP-6” — a code stamped on a cage, not a name. She was adopted by Diana Navon. Eight years later, FOX6 Milwaukee profiled Julie — thriving in a home, a companion animal with a name and a life. All three rescued beagles were placed in adoptive homes after veterinary care.
The Criminal Case
A Dane County criminal complaint (case 2021CF001839) charged all three with burglary (building or dwelling, party to a crime) and theft of movable property ($2,500–$5,000).
The case was dismissed approximately ten days before trial was set to begin. The district attorney moved to dismiss after Ridglan Farms expressed a desire not to proceed, citing business and safety concerns. Judge Mario White granted the dismissal.
After the criminal case collapsed, defendants pivoted to a special prosecutor petition against Ridglan. This led to a settlement and the facility's agreement to surrender its license by July 2026.
The Footage's Downstream Impact
The video from that single night became Exhibits 6–13 at the 2024 evidentiary hearing. That footage — combined with subsequent investigations — ultimately produced: