Wisconsin permanently revokes Ridglan Farms vet’s license

Wisconsin regulators have permanently revoked the veterinary license of Richard Van Domelen, the lead veterinarian and facility manager at Ridglan Farms, closing a closely watched disciplinary case tied to the controversial beagle breeding and research facility. The Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board took final action on July 28, 2026, and the state’s board order list now records Van Domelen under a Final Decision and Order in case 24 VET 158. (fox6now.com)

The revocation follows nearly a year of escalating regulatory action. Van Domelen’s license was summarily suspended on September 30, 2025, after the board considered allegations tied to surgical delegation and anesthesia practices at Ridglan Farms. Earlier FOX6 reporting said the case grew out of complaints and a broader state investigation into the facility, while DATCP materials show the board had already been actively examining delegation, supervision, and anesthesia-monitoring questions in 2025. (fox6now.com)

According to FOX6’s report on the final order, regulators found that Van Domelen delegated hundreds of procedures, including cherry eye surgeries, vocal cord removals, and dental extractions, to non-veterinarians. The same report said investigators examined whether anesthesia was properly used and monitored, including testimony that only some dogs received ketamine. FOX6 also reported that Van Domelen had agreed in May 2026 to voluntarily surrender his license, but the surrender was not made public until the board accepted it on July 28. (fox6now.com)

The legal and professional backdrop matters here. Wisconsin administrative code says diagnosis, prescribing, and performing surgery are limited to licensed veterinarians, permit holders, or qualifying veterinary students, and may not be delegated to veterinary technicians or unlicensed assistants. The board’s public FAQ adds that if a medical service is not specifically listed as delegable, it may not be delegated. Board guidance adopted in 2025 also says anesthesia monitoring cannot be delegated to an unlicensed assistant except in narrowly defined emergency stabilization situations, and that inadequate planning is not a defense. (wirules.elaws.us)

Industry standards point in the same direction. AAHA’s dental care guidelines state that oral surgery, including surgical extractions, should be performed only by trained, licensed veterinarians, and that anesthesia is fundamental to safe dental procedures. On devocalization, AVMA policy has discouraged the procedure as a nontherapeutic intervention, and earlier AVMA language limited it to qualified, licensed veterinarians as a last alternative after other options failed. That doesn’t determine the Wisconsin case by itself, but it reinforces how far outside accepted professional boundaries the allegations appear to be. (aaha.org)

Reaction has come largely from advocacy groups rather than organized veterinary associations, at least in publicly available reporting. FOX6 quoted Amy Van Aartsen of The Marty Project calling the board’s final order long overdue. Ridglan Farms, in earlier reporting about the suspension, said it was disappointed in the board’s action and argued that USDA inspectors had found the facility compliant with the Animal Welfare Act. Those positions reflect a split between state professional discipline and the facility’s own defense of its operating record. (fox6now.com)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, practice managers, and compliance leads, this case is less about one facility than about the limits of delegation risk. It shows how routine workflow, staffing shortages, or long-standing internal protocols won’t shield a veterinarian if delegated tasks cross into surgery, anesthesia oversight, or other acts reserved by law. It also underscores that boards are willing to treat delegation failures not just as technical violations, but as unprofessional conduct tied to patient welfare, recordkeeping, supervision, and clinical judgment. (wirules.elaws.us)

What to watch: Ridglan Farms’ broader shutdown is now the next milestone. DATCP confirmed the facility agreed to surrender its Wisconsin dog seller license by July 1, 2026, and FOX6 reported that nearly 2,000 beagles had already been released to rescue groups, with the remaining dogs expected out in August 2026. Any further fallout is likely to center on remaining enforcement, animal disposition, and whether this case prompts closer scrutiny of delegation practices at other research-linked animal facilities. (danesheriff.com)