Food Heals

Most people will never see what really happens behind closed doors inside a place like Ridglan Farms. Scotty Gilbertson did. Scotty is an undercover whistleblower who went inside the beagle breeding facility and witnessed cruelty most people could not imagine. He saw the cages. He saw the suffering. He bonded with the dogs. And instead of walking away, he exposed the truth. In this episode of Food Heals, Allison Melody is joined by co-host Ella Magers for an emotional conversation with Scotty Gilbertson, whose undercover footage and testimony helped ignite the movement to free the Ridglan Farms beagles. And the timing could not be more unbelievable. Minutes before this interview, the breaking news came in: the beagles are being released from Ridglan Farms. This is a massive full circle moment for Scotty. He has been exposing Ridglan, fighting for these dogs, and helping lead this rescue mission for years. He is the reason so many people finally saw what was happening behind those walls. For Allison and Ella, this news is also deeply personal. They were on the ground at Ridglan with Scotty. All three were tear-gassed. All three witnessed peaceful rescuers being met with violence. And all three refused to give up on the dogs still trapped inside. This episode captures the shock, the tears, the celebration, and the reality of what it took to get here. Scotty shares what he saw undercover, why he could not stay silent, and what it means to finally hear that the dogs he fought for may get the chance to feel the sun, touch the grass, and know love. This is a story about courage, whistleblowing, public pressure, animal rescue, and the power of people who refuse to look away. Because these beagles were never just part of a case. They were never just footage, headlines, or numbers. They are living, breathing souls who deserve the sun on their faces, grass beneath their paws, and a family to finally call their own. Follow: ⁠Scotty Gilberston: @scotty_gilby⁠ ⁠Ella Magers: @sexyfitvegan⁠ ⁠Allison Melody: @allisonmelodytv⁠ Links: Save the Dogs:https://www.savethedogs.io Born on Death Row documentary:https://www.bornondeathrow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when people stop looking away and start showing up? In this emotional episode of Food Heals, Allison sits down with Trey, co-founder of Animal Activism Collective, right as breaking news comes in that the beagles at Ridglan Farms may finally be released after months of public pressure, rescue efforts, and relentless campaigning. Trey shares what it was like being part of the first Ridglan rescue effort, how 22 beagles were brought to safety, and why the movement to free animals from labs, farms, cages, and cruelty is bigger than one rescue. Together, Allison and Trey talk about the trauma, hope, heartbreak, and power of direct action, including Allison’s experience being tear-gassed at the second Ridglan Farms rescue. They also explore how everyday people can turn their love for animals into meaningful action, even if they’ve never considered themselves activists before. Trey also shares the story behind Animal Activism Collective, their free mentorship program, their work in anti-fur and foie gras campaigns, and how grassroots pressure has helped push major brands and companies to end cruel practices. This episode is for anyone who has ever seen animal suffering and thought, “There has to be something I can do.” Because there is. And every animal deserves love. Learn more about Animal Activism Collective:animalactivismcollective.com Follow Animal Activism Collective on Instagram:@animalactivismcollective Save the beagles:https://www.savethedogs.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We came prepared to carry beagles to safety. Instead, we walked into tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, manure trenches, chaos, fear, and what felt like a war zone. In this raw episode of Food Heals, Allison sits down with fellow beagle rescuers Hannah, Ella, and Alex to talk about what really happened at Ridglan Farms, where thousands of beagles are still trapped inside a facility breeding dogs for research. We trained to carry 15 to 30 pound dogs. We prepared for possible arrest. We knew there could be resistance. But we did not expect to be tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed, and shot with rubber bullets. We did not expect to see people choking, crying, falling, getting injured, and helping each other breathe. We did not expect police and security to use force against people who were there for abused dogs. Allison, Hannah, Ella, and Alex share the moments they cannot stop replaying: the tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, hay bales, manure trenches, panic, fear, strangers holding each other up, and the heartbreak of leaving without the beagles. They also push back on the false media narrative that rescuers came to hurt anyone. They came to help dogs who have never known freedom, grass, sunlight, or loving human touch. And the fight is not over. Because the beagles are still inside.We wo’nt give up until every beagle is free to feel the sun on their face, the grass on their paws, and the love of their family. Follow the rescuers on Insta: Hannah Golanski: @hannahgol11 Alex Tello: @furthestfromthewild Ella Magers: @sexyfitvegan Allison Melody: @allisonmelodytv Learn more: blog.simpleheart.org Take action now: SaveTheDogs.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They were born into cages, raised for experiments, and when brave people tried to get them out, those were the people placed in handcuffs. In this episode, Allison is joined by Ella Magers and Jennifer Tourkin for an emotional conversation about the beagles at Ridglan Farms and the growing movement to rescue them. Jennifer shares the story of carrying a beagle to safety during the March 15th rescue. Allison, Ella, and Jennifer also share why all three of them are going back on April 19 to help save the nearly 2,000 beagles still inside. Jennifer also opens up about what she witnessed on the ground, what happened when police showed up, and why the arrests only strengthened the urgency of this movement. If you love dogs, this episode will move you. If you care about justice, it will light a fire in you. Join us April 19: SaveTheDogs.io. Follow for updates: Jennifer: @jetmissionbeagle Ella: @sexyfitvegan Allison: @allisonmelodytv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He went from mocking vegan videos to being arrested for carrying a rescued beagle to safety. In this episode, I sit down with vegan animal activist Pete Reimann to talk about the unexpected path that led him here, from a single video that changed his mind forever to the rescue effort that put him on the front lines at Ridglan Farms. Pete shares how he went vegan in an instant after watching one video, why he devoted his life to animal activism, and what it was like getting arrested for saving beagles from a life of testing, torture, and abuse.  He also tells the story that stayed with me most: carrying a terrified beagle to safety while the dog fought to get away, until Pete called him by the name of his childhood dog, Tracker. In that moment, the fear shifted, the dog calmed down, and what happened next is something I’ll never forget.  We also talk about what really happened during the rescue, the dogs who made it out, the ones who were taken back, what activists are risking, and why people are returning on April 19. Pete also shares more about The True Cost Project, his new nonprofit aimed at exposing the financial incentives behind animal testing and pushing for real change. If this episode moves you, please share it, post it, and send it to someone who needs to hear it.  Resources + LinksSave the dogs:savethedogs.io Pete on Instagram:@for.petes.sake.official The True Cost Project:gofundme.com/f/help-launch-the-true-cost-project Donate to Help Pete save the rest of the beagles on April 19th:givesendgo.com/helppetesavethedogs Take action by contacting Dane County authorities and urging them to rescue the remaining dogs: (608) 266-4211 [email protected] [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices