UW-Madison barks up the wrong tree by investigating student group for beagle rescue flier

MADISON, Wis., June 25, 2026 — An animal rights student group faces a disciplinary investigation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after hanging fliers critical of a local dog breeder — an act that university officials are preposterously claiming encourages “criminal activity.”

But UW-Madison is a public university bound by the First Amendment, and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project are demanding that the university immediately end its investigation. 

“Our university is treating us like criminals simply because we posted fliers about a dog rescue,” said Jackson Ray, the president of the Animal Advocacy student club. “The whole point of a student group is to share our beliefs with others and advocate for a good cause, and we have a right to speak up on behalf of animals who are suffering.”

Ridglan Farms is a Wisconsin breeder of dogs for experimentation. In March, activists entered the facility and allegedly stole a number of beagles, and several activists were arrested and now face burglary charges. A month later, members of UW-Madison’s Animal Advocacy student group hung fliers around campus that read, “Help Save 2,000 Beagles, Return to Ridglan Farms, April 19^th, 2026, Scan the QR code or visit savethedogs.io” and featured a photo of two people holding a beagle. The flier also included a QR code directing people to information about the recent dog rescue and suggestions for how people can learn more and get involved. 

Ray then received an email from an administrator warning the group that their flier appeared to be “soliciting or encouraging individuals to participate in criminal activity” in violation of Wisconsin state law. She claimed that the reference to “entering” Ridglan Farms and removing dogs from the property promoted “illegal activity.” 

But the flier did no such thing. It merely asked people to learn more and, if they cared, to show up. It didn’t instruct them to commit any crimes or violate the law.

“It isn’t illegal to put up a flier on campus, even if its content makes university officials uncomfortable,” said FIRE attorney Amanda Nordstrom. “Protests are a powerful way to show up and stand up for the causes we’re passionate about, and if participants cross the line and engage in criminal activity, that can be prosecuted. However, inviting people to learn more about an issue and attend a protest is not a crime.”

Ray also received an official notice of investigation via email from another administrator. The admin alleged that posting the flier was in violation of Wisconsin’s state laws against encouraging burglary and the unauthorized release of animals. The email directed the group to schedule a mandatory investigatory interview and also contained a list of questions about the group’s communications and activities. 

“As some of the most ardent defenders of campus free speech raise concerns over UW-Madison’s disciplinary action against Animal Advocacy, we hope the university will reflect on the broader implications of its investigation, decline to punish students for pure speech, and uphold the historic role of college campuses in protecting student expression,” said Steffen Seitz, litigation fellow at the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

FIRE’s letter requests a response from the university by July 9. 

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, we place a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation’s campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.

The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law works to empower and defend animal advocates through activist defense, affirmative litigation, and training law students to join and transform the field of Animal Law. Learn more at AALDP.com and follow us at  @AALDP_DU on Twitter/X, Instagram, and @AALDP-DU on Bluesky.

CONTACT:

Katie Stalcup, Communications Campaign Manager, FIRE: 215-717-3473; media@thefire.org

Animal Activist Legal Defense Project: 646-397-4081; press@aaldp.com