Prison for Saving Dogs? (Lunch w/ Dean Wyrzykowski, Ridglan beagle rescuer)

Join DxE LA + Animal Victory Meetup + The Simple Heart for lunch with Dean Wyrzkowski who was arrested by riot police for leading efforts to rescue beagles from Ridglan Farms. The court called Dean “dangerous” for nonviolently trying to save criminally abused dogs. Dean, and co-defendants, are facing 31 years in prison — all because they volunteered to save beagles from criminal abuse at Ridglan Farms. Dean is excited to go to trial because this case gives the defendants a chance to argue, in court, that animals have legal rights — including the right to be rescued from abuse. Dean is going up against the biomedical industry which does tens of billions of dollars of business in Dane County — including through animal testing at the University of Wisconsin. They already put out a press release calling defendants terrorists who should be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Learn about Dean's animal rights journey from a member of DxE in college, to running Wayne Hsiung's campaign for Berkely Mayor, and then co-found Simple Heart with Wayne. Animal Rescuer Sally Zito will provide an update after recently being charged with felony grand theft, with three other defendants, for rescuing Phoebe and Celia, two baby goats who were sick with respiratory infections on a Meyenberg goat dairy. Kings County DA has decided to use its resources not to protect the goats still suffering from neglect and cruelty, but to prosecute the compassionate individuals who tried to stop it. We'll be in the back room, space is limited to 40, so please RSVP by June 6. 2026 (for staffing) on Partiful invite (will be attached shortly). There is $15 subterranean parking or metered street parking. Animal Victory Meetup will be followed by a Kroger protest at Grand Hope Park. Contact #TiffanyBrunelli if you have any questions.