'Baywatch' Star Alexandra Paul Arrested After Removing Beagles From Wisconsin Research Facility

Actress and activist Alexandra Paul was among about 20 people arrested Sunday after protesters entered Ridglan Farms, one of the country’s largest commercial beagle breeders for biomedical research. The protesters removed several dogs.

Kelly McBride Ni

Published: 3/17/2026, 11:29:14 PM EDT

'Baywatch' Star Alexandra Paul Arrested After Removing Beagles From Wisconsin Research Facility — Alexandra Paul attends the 30th Anniversary of "Baywatch" at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. (Presley Ann/Getty Images)

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 8:30 a.m. to the Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, property, where 50 to 60 individuals entered without permission. Some dogs were removed from the facility, and several animals were initially unaccounted for though some were later recovered, the sheriff’s office stated.

Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said, “The Dane County Sheriff’s Office understands how deeply people feel for the beagles at Ridglan Farms, and we respect their right to express that passion through peaceful protests. Our role is to keep everyone safe and to respond when unlawful activity takes place.”

Ridglan Farms, which markets itself as a “Purpose Bred Beagle” supplier for scientific research, describes its mission as providing dogs “that increase and exceed the expectations of the research community.”

According to its website, the facility is a USDA Class A dog breeder and a licensed Class R research facility, accredited by AAALAC International for animal care and welfare.

The United States has just a few major commercial beagle breeding operations for research. Ridglan Farms once produced roughly 4,000 beagles annually but agreed to stop breeding and selling dogs by July 2026 following legal challenges over animal welfare, according to the Animal Welfare Institute.

Scientific studies cite beagles as the most commonly used breed in laboratory research. A 2022 study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information states, “the most suitable and frequently utilized breed in clinical trials is the Beagle,” citing their even temperament, medium size, and short coat.

Activist Wayne Hsiung, who was also arrested, posted videos showing people in protective suits entering kennels and removing dogs. “We did what we believed was necessary to bring the dogs to safety after authorities declined to intervene,” he wrote, sharing footage and arrest photos that included Paul.

In April 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced it would phase out animal testing requirements for monoclonal antibody therapies and other drugs, in favor of more human-relevant methods.

Commissioner Martin Makary called it "a major step toward ending the use of laboratory animals in drug testing. Thousands of animals, including dogs and primates, could eventually be spared each year as these new methods take root."

Paul, known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden on Baywatch, has a long history of animal rights activism, as well as involvement in environmental and nuclear disarmament protests.

Paul has been arrested several times at animal rights protests, including rescues at factory farms and slaughterhouses, according to her personal website.

In 2018, she was arrested after rescuing a chicken from a factory farm. In 2019, she was arrested during protests at a duck farm and at a San Francisco sit-in for an animal bill of rights, spending two days in Sonoma County Jail.

In 2020, she was arrested while attempting to rescue a pig from a slaughterhouse. In 2021, she rescued a chicken from a slaughterhouse truck and was acquitted in 2023 after a nine-day trial in Merced, California.

According to the sheriff’s office, this is an ongoing investigation and “more details may become available as it progresses.”

"We encourage anyone with concerns about animal welfare or research practices to engage through lawful and constructive avenues," Barrett said. "The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to maintaining public safety, promoting peaceful dialogue, and ensuring that all parties can exercise their rights within the bounds of the law."