SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California woman, Zoe Rosenberg, is currently on trial for allegedly taking four chickens from one of Perdue Farms' major poultry plants. Her case has brought national attention to the issue of animal treatment in slaughterhouses, as her defense team argues that she acted out of necessity to rescue the birds from potential abuse. The trial has spanned seven weeks, with closing arguments expected to take place on Tuesday. If convicted, Rosenberg faces over five years in prison.
During the trial, Rosenberg has openly admitted to taking the chickens from Petaluma Poultry in 2023 and even shared footage of the incident online. Instead of contesting the act of theft, her defense has concentrated on the justification for her actions. "This is not a whodunit. This is a why-dunit," stated Kevin Little, one of Rosenberg's attorneys. He emphasized that she investigated the poultry plant for two months prior to the incident and consulted a veterinarian regarding troubling footage that suggested animals were being boiled alive.
Rosenberg, an animal rights activist affiliated with the group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), claims that her act was a rescue rather than a crime, as suggested by her attorney, Chris Carraway. DxE is known for its animal rescues and protests, which often gain national notoriety. Perdue Farms, one of the largest poultry producers in the United States, supplies various major grocery chains, including Safeway.
The trial is taking place in Sonoma County, California, an area noted for its significant agricultural industry and a reputation for being tough on animal rights activists. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Sonoma County has prosecuted more animal rights cases than any other region in the country. Rosenberg has had to wear an ankle monitor as a condition of remaining out of custody while attending classes at the University of California, Berkeley.
In a recent post on Instagram, Rosenberg expressed her frustration, stating, "An immense amount of government resources have been spent prosecuting me for the alleged ‘crime’ of rescuing four abused chickens from a Perdue slaughterhouse." She also highlighted that while she had managed to save the chickens, others were still in jeopardy, referencing the names her group assigned to them: Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea.
Prosecutors have presented evidence alleging that Rosenberg entered the Petaluma Poultry plant without permission on four separate occasions, attaching GPS devices to 12 delivery vehicles before taking the chickens from a trailer. Around 50 DxE members were reportedly protesting outside at the time of the incident. Another member, Raven Deerbrook, who faced similar charges, testified for the defense after reaching a plea agreement in June 2024. She stated that she had informed Rosenberg of possible animal cruelty after conducting her own investigation of the facility.
During her testimony, Rosenberg described how she disguised herself as a worker at Petaluma Poultry using a fake badge and earpiece. She insisted that her primary motivation was concern for animal welfare and not part of a coordinated criminal conspiracy. However, prosecutors have argued that the break-ins fit within a broader pattern of activism by Rosenberg.
During cross-examination, Deputy District Attorney Matt Hobson questioned Rosenberg about her aspirations for "open rescue," to which she responded affirmatively. This suggests a larger commitment to animal rights activism and the potential for similar acts in the future.
This trial isn't Rosenberg's first brush with the law; she was previously arrested in April 2022 for chaining herself to a basketball post during an NBA playoff game as part of a protest against Rembrandt Farms, which has also faced allegations of animal abuse. According to DxE's mission statement, the organization aims to shut down slaughterhouses and hopes to effect revolutionary changes in social and political views on animal rights within a generation.
