PRESS RELEASE

Animal Rescuer Zoe Rosenberg Sentenced to 90 Days in Custody for Saving Chickens Worth $24

December 3, 2025

Today, animal rescuer Zoe Rosenberg was sentenced to 90 days in custody for saving four chickens from Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse. She will become eligible for jail alternatives for the final 60 days of her sentence.

PRESS

Animal Welfare Activists Protest Outside Oakland Safeway Ahead of Thanksgiving: Here's Why

November 27, 2025

ABC7 Bay Area

"We're here protesting the violence behind Thanksgiving and the continued mass slaughter of over 40 million turkeys every single year, and that's just for Thanksgiving," said Cassie King, an organizer with Direct Action Everywhere. The protest comes one week before one of the animal rights group's members finds out whether she'll serve prison time.

PRESS RELEASE

Joaquin Phoenix Condemns Prosecution of Animal Rescuer in Sonoma County, Calls for Prosecution of Animal Cruelty

November 24, 2025

Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix is urging the Sonoma County District Attorney to prosecute animal cruelty at Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse, after her office has ignored repeated reports of documented animal cruelty at the company’s factory farms and slaughterhouse.

PRESS RELEASE

Activists Hold Vigil Outside Trader Joe's-Supplying Slaughterhouse in the Wake of Chicken Rescuer Conviction

November 8, 2025

DxE is calling for Petaluma Poultry to be prosecuted for scalding birds alive, citing that California’s animal cruelty law prohibits inflicting unnecessary cruelty on an animal.

PRESS RELEASE

Animal Advocates Urge Attorney General Bonta to Prosecute Petaluma Poultry for Criminal Animal Abuse

November 5, 2025

Zoe Rosenberg spoke at the AG’s Office on Wednesday, saying, “Sonoma County’s District Attorney’s Office is not doing anything to address the criminal animal cruelty. Instead, they spent the last two years prosecuting me.”

PRESS

UC Berkeley Activist Dealt Felony Conviction for Chicken ‘Rescue,’ Faces up to 5 Years in Prison

November 3, 2025

The Daily Californian

This case stems from an incident in June 2023, when Rosenberg removed four chickens from Perdue Farms’ Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse facility on what she described as a “rescue” mission. Rosenberg is represented by the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, who is leading the appeal process for her conviction and certain aspects of the judge’s ruling.

PRESS

Activist Who ‘Rescued’ Chickens from Poultry Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Trespassing

November 1, 2025

Local News Matters

Rosenberg even filmed the chicken rescue, so this wasn’t a case of did she or didn’t she. The defense presented a case in which Rosenberg believed she was acting lawfully since Petaluma Poultry was allegedly abusing animals. The group supports what they call the “right to rescue,” much like how citizens have a right to break into hot cars if they see a pet in distress.

PRESS

An Animal Rights Activist Said She ‘Rescued’ Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy

October 30, 2025

Los Angeles Times

“These charges carry a potential sentence of nearly 5 years in jail,” DxE said in a statement. “Meanwhile, Petaluma Poultry faces no consequences for leaving sick animals to die or scalding animals alive.”

TOP PRESS

She Said She Was Rescuing Chickens. A Jury Convicted Her of Conspiracy.

October 29, 2025

The New York Times

The four chickens she took with her — whom she named Poppy, Ivy, Aster and Azalea — are alive at a sanctuary for rescued farm animals, she said. “I will not apologize for taking sick, neglected animals to get medical care,” Ms. Rosenberg said in a statement. “When we see cruelty and violence, we can choose to ignore it or to intervene and try to make the world a better place.”