Activist Sentenced for Stealing Chickens from Poultry Farm

A California animal rights activist, Zoe Rosenberg, has been given a 90-day prison sentence after being convicted of conspiracy, trespassing, and other felonies related to the theft of four chickens from a Perdue Farms facility. The 23-year-old did not dispute that she took the birds from the Petaluma Poultry farm but insisted her actions were meant to rescue them from poor conditions.

Rosenberg’s trial lasted seven weeks and concluded with a jury’s decision in October in Sonoma County, which is a primarily agricultural area in Northern California. She is set to report to Sonoma County Jail on December 10. Out of her 90-day sentence, 60 days might be served in a different setting like house arrest. Furthermore, she will have two years of probation and is required to keep away from any Purdue properties in the county.

Activists from Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), the animal rights organization Rosenberg is affiliated with, expressed no regret over their actions. After her conviction, Rosenberg stated, “I will not apologize for taking sick and neglected animals for treatment.”

The four chickens, named Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea, were relocated to an animal sanctuary after their removal. On the other hand, Petaluma Poultry has characterized DxE as an extremist group aimed at dismantling the livestock industry, asserting that the animals were not mistreated.

Rosenberg had even gone as far as to wear a disguise resembling a Petaluma poultry employee, complete with a fake badge and earphones, to facilitate the chicken capture, which she later showcased via social media.

Petaluma Poultry operates under Perdue Farms, one of the largest chicken suppliers to major grocery retailers in the United States. Notably, a co-founder of DxE was previously convicted for involvement in protests at the same factory farm two years ago.