Open Rescue

"DxE’s investigations have been among the most important in the history of animal protection."

- Justin Marceau, professor of law

Some of the most important actions in the animal rights movement have been rescues on the frontline of animal abuse. Our open rescues are seen by millions and force the issue of animal rights into the public consciousness. DxE activists are now going to court for rescues at some of the largest factory farms in the world.

You can learn more about these groundbreaking court cases by following the #RightToRescue campaign site.

Dora Rescued Herself!

December 22, 2022
Dora Rescued Herself!

Dora had probably never been treated with kindness by a human, yet she must have sensed something different when investigators with Direct Action Everywhere came into the barn where she was imprisoned. She must have been holding onto some feeling like hope, because as one of these investigators, whose name is Alicia, passed by her open cage, Dora jumped onto Alicia’s backpack – and stayed! She did the whole investigation with Alicia and came out with her too.

Rescuing Georgie from Foster Farms

November 10, 2022
Rescuing Georgie from Foster Farms

Investigators found Georgie, a little turkey chick, stuck on her back on the floor of a Foster Farms turkey facility in California. She had an infected eye and she was surrounded by dead baby turkeys, including chicks whose brains and eyes had been eaten out by insect larvae. They rescued Georgie and gave her round-the-clock care, but it wasn’t enough. After a few days, she died. A necropsy report from UC Davis found that she had a deadly yolk sac infection called omphalitis caused by E. coli bacteria, likely due to fecal contamination. In the midst of a nationwide turkey shortage caused by the avian influenza, we are calling attention to the unsanitary conditions that help facilitate the spread of pandemics in modern poultry farms.

Avril, Carried off of a Slaughter Truck

July 27, 2022
Avril, Carried off of a Slaughter Truck

DxE Montreal pulled off a daring open rescue at Marvid slaughterhouse, where some activists stopped a slaughter truck while others ran to the back of the truck, climbed to the top, and pulled a chicken out to carry her to safety. They named her Avril.

Pulling Charlie from a Dead Pile

February 3, 2022
Pulling Charlie from a Dead Pile

While driving through Iowa, a group of DxE activists found a tiny piglet, Charlie, still alive, slowly freezing to death in a “dead pile" outside of a farm. They rushed him to the vet and did everything they could to save his life. He was able to feel warmth and love for three days until he passed away from his injuries. Charlie’s story was shared in The Guardian’s ongoing coverage of US agricultural practices that are illegal elsewhere and in an article on direct action in Current Affairs.

14 Chickens Saved from Foster Farms in 3 Daring Rescues at ALC

September 28, 2021
14 Chickens Saved from Foster Farms in 3 Daring Rescues at ALC

During the 2021 Animal Liberation Conference, activists locked down at the largest chicken slaughterhouse in California, and while they were stopping traffic, another team of activists pulled birds from a stalled slaughter truck. A second rescue team carried birds out from inside the slaughterhouse, and a third team went to a nearby Foster Farms factory farm to save more lives. In total, 14 individuals were rescued and went to sanctuary where they got to experience fresh air and grass for the first time.

Hana and Molly, Freed from Tyson's Tyranny

August 20, 2021
Hana and Molly, Freed from Tyson's Tyranny

UC Berkeley student Zoe Rosenberg led an investigation into one of the university's main suppliers and the largest "meat" producer in the world, Tyson Foods. Inside the company's farms, investigators found thousands of babies struggling to walk and dead birds covered in flies. They rescued two chickens and brought them to sanctuary.

Want to expose industry misconduct? We can help you.