Animal Rescuer Zoe Rosenberg found guilty of saving 4 sick and injured chickens from a slaughterhouse in California may get a 5 years a prison sentence

 

UPDATE! In a devastating blow to animal welfare, Zoe Rosenberg, an animal rescuer and investigator with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), has been found guilty of felony conspiracy and three misdemeanors for saving four sick and injured chickens from Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse. The conviction carries a potential sentence of nearly five years in jail, a staggering punishment for an act of compassion.

While Zoe now faces years behind bars, Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry walks free despite documented evidence of animals left to die slowly, trapped in filth, or scalded alive in boiling water. The very cruelty that sparked Zoe’s rescue was barred from the jury’s full view, leaving them to judge her actions without the context of the suffering she sought to end.

Represented by Chris Carraway of the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project and attorney Kevin Little, Zoe plans to appeal her conviction, challenging the court’s refusal to allow her a necessity defense, the argument that her actions were justified to prevent greater harm. The defense was also severely limited in presenting animal cruelty evidence, an omission that silenced the animals’ suffering at the heart of this case.

For the animal welfare movement, the verdict is both a devastating blow and a rallying cry. A young woman may soon sit in prison for saving the lives of animals, while those who inflict industrial-scale animal cruelty remain shielded by law and profit. Around the world, supporters mourn the injustice and brace for the long fight ahead, to bring compassion back into this fallen world.

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September 16th: Zoe Rosenberg, a dedicated animal rescuer and investigator with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), is facing the fight of her life. On Monday, September 15th, the Perdue Rescue Trial began at the Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa, California. Rosenberg stands accused of rescuing four sick and injured chickens from Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse. If convicted, she could face nearly five years in jail.

Despite the significance of this case, all media has been denied access to the courtroom. However, daily Court Watch summaries will be posted on DxE’s blog, with updates also shared on the Perdue Rescue Trial X account, DxE’s Instagram, and UnchainedTV’s live panel discussions. Supporters are encouraged to attend the trial in person by signing up HERE!

On June 13th, 2023, Rosenberg rescued four chickens, Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea, who were suffering inside the slaughterhouse. She publicly announced the rescue that same day, yet was not arrested until November 30th. In December, prosecutors placed her under the strictest level of pre-trial release, including a GPS ankle monitor, warrantless searches, and severe travel restrictions.

Originally charged with multiple felonies, Rosenberg now faces one count of felony conspiracy, two misdemeanor trespass charges, and one misdemeanor for allegedly tampering with a chicken transport truck. Her defense is being led by Chris Carraway of the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, while Sonoma County prosecutors Matthew Hobson and Jessalee Mills pursue the case under District Attorney Carla Rodriguez.

Before the rescue, Rosenberg and other DxE activists repeatedly reported graphic evidence of criminal animal cruelty at Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry facility to law enforcement, the USDA, and local agencies. These included birds trapped on their backs without food or water and birds with bloody wounds. Authorities took no action. For Rosenberg, this case isn’t about denying what she did, it’s about explaining why.

“On the first day of my trial, the judge ruled that my ankle monitor might prejudice the jury and ordered that I can have it removed. This comes after nearly two years of being electronically monitored by the government. I will likely be getting it off sometime today,” shared Zoe Rosenberg on her social media.

“The judge also ruled that we will sadly not be allowed to present or discuss evidence of animal cruelty at the factory farms that supply chickens to Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse. He struck some of our witnesses, including Lewis Bernier and Eva Hamer,” continued Rosenberg. “However, he decided that we can tell the jury about the conditions the rescued chickens were in and potentially even present their veterinary records. Animal caretaker Carla Cabral will be allowed to testify.”

Today, Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea are thriving at an undisclosed animal sanctuary, living the lives they were almost denied, thanks to the devoted care of their caretaker, Carla Cabral.

Pre-trial motions on Monday shaped key aspects of the trial. While the judge limited testimony about earlier investigations and other facilities, Rosenberg will be able to explain how those investigations influenced her beliefs, including a previous case where law enforcement allowed the rescue of a single injured bird named Rose.

This case will test not only Rosenberg’s freedom but also whether rescuing sick and injured animals will be seen as a crime or as an act of compassion. As the trial continues, the world will be watching to see whether the law sides with suffering or with mercy.

World Animal News

174 race horses died in 2024 from racing/training injuries in Australia: the highest number ever recorded but the real figures are probably higher

 

At least 174 racehorses died from racing or training injuries in past 12 months in Australia, report finds

That’s the highest number recorded by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses since they began tracking deaths 10 years ago

Eighty-five of the deaths listed in the report were the result of a fatal front limb injury.

The report from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) was released on Tuesday, one week ahead of Australia’s most important horse race, the Melbourne Cup

The data is based on deaths recorded in official stewards’ reports, media reporting and whistleblower information. CPR’s general manager, Helle Erhardsen, said all deaths listed in the report had been verified via public records, with racing authorities, or directly with the trainer or owner of the affected horse. The report includes both flat and jumps racing and injuries that occurred during training.

Erhardsen said the real figure was likely higher, as fatal injuries that occur in training or at the stables were not publicly reported. A GIPA request made by the group to Racing NSW in February found 138 horses had died or been euthanised as a direct result of injuries sustained in racing or training in 2023-24 – more than twice the number that was counted by CPR for that year.

Twenty horses died as a result of race day accidents in flat races in Victoria in the 2024-25 season. The CPR report, which includes horses in jumps racing and those which were euthanised as the result of an injury sustained in training or trackwork, lists 40.

Eighty-five of the deaths listed in the report were the result of a fatal front limb injury.

Erhardsen said the real figure was likely higher, as fatal injuries that occur in training or at the stables were not publicly reported. A GIPA request made by the group to Racing NSW in February found 138 horses had died or been euthanised as a direct result of injuries sustained in racing or training in 2023-24 – more than twice the number that was counted by CPR for that year.

Twenty horses died as a result of race day accidents in flat races in Victoria in the 2024-25 season. The CPR report, which includes horses in jumps racing and those which were euthanised as the result of an injury sustained in training or trackwork, lists 40.

It comes as Racing Victoria is reeling from allegations made by its general manager of veterinary services, Dr Grace Forbes, in the midst of a Fair Work case. According to a report by the Herald Sun, Forbes alleged she was told by Racing Victoria to be more “flexible”, which she interpreted as a request to be more flexible in her application of the veterinary safety protocols when deciding whether to clear a horse to race.

A spokesperson for Racing Victoria said it was “disappointed to read the unsubstantiated allegations and strongly refute their accuracy and the disparaging comments about Racing Victoria and its staff”.

They said equine welfare was “of the highest priority to Racing Victoria”.

The veterinary safety protocols were introduced in 2021 after seven horses died in the running of the Melbourne Cup between 2013 and 2020, five from a fatal leg injury. Those five were all international entrants.

The veterinary safety protocols require international horses to have a CT scan of all distal limbs before flying to Australia – or an MRI if a CT scan is not available – and a further CT scan ahead of every race in Australia. They also require a number of pre-race examinations by vets appointed by Racing Victoria, including three before the horse boards its international flight, weekly once on the ground in Australia, one before every race, and twice before the Melbourne Cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/28/racehorse-deaths-australia-racing-training-injuries

Two women have been jailed for taking part in an online group of people who enjoy watching, buying and selling videos of monkeys being abused, tortured and killed

Two women have been jailed at Worcester Crown Court UK, for their part in a global monkey torture ring. Holly LeGresley, 37, of Kidderminster was sentenced to two years and Adriana Orme, 55, of Upton-upon Severn to one year and three months in prison. Both had previously pleaded guilty at separate hearings to publishing an obscene article and causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Adriana Orme (left) and Holly Le Gresley (right) previously admitted being part of the network LeGresley and Orme discovered the online monkey hate community during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Their interest and involvement escalated and following intelligence from the National Crime Agency they were arrested by West Mercia Police in September and October 2022 as part of a joint operation with the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). The monkey hate community is an online group of people who enjoy watching - and in some cases paying for - videos of monkeys being abused, tortured and killed. LeGresley and Orme’s interest in the subject was initially through YouTube, but quickly escalated to groups on private messaging platforms such as Telegram and Discord.  Through these groups both women developed links with one of the main organisers of the global ring, a man in the USA called Michael Macartney, known online as ‘The Torture King’.  He was their direct line of contact to the people in Indonesia who carried out and filmed the torture. Earlier this month McCartney, 50, was jailed for three years and four months in the US state of Virginia for his part in the ring. LeGresley took on the role of ‘admin’ in a group on Telegram which meant she welcomed new members and helped them to access videos and photographs of monkeys being tortured.  She then took her involvement a step further by taking on responsibility for archiving all the content in the Telegram group as well as other groups, leading to a library of thousands of images and videos all showing monkey abuse, torture and killing. Both women watched the content themselves, and as evidenced by comments within the Telegram group expressed their delight at the images and videos they were viewing.  They also regularly shared content. LeGresley even set up a poll for members of the group to vote on the specific type of torture they would like to see inflicted on the monkeys.  She then directed people on how to make payment for the production of the video, with her and Orme both contributing financially. Anyone who sees any content on social media which shows animal cruelty should not comment on the post or engage with it as this will increase its visibility.  Instead, please report the post to the social media platform.  The content can also be reported at https://reportharmfulcontent.com.  Information relating to animal cruelty can also be passed to the RSPCA or your local police force.   Full release - https://www.westmercia.police.uk/news...

Sea Shepherd "For centuries, the 'Grindadrap' has cast a dark shadow over the Faroe Islands in the name of tradition" ( Graphic Video )

https://seashepherd.org/2025/10/02/whales-slaughtered-as-tradition-prevails/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands#Demographics

For centuries, the Grindadráp has cast a dark shadow over the Faroe Islands. Entire pods of whales and dolphins are driven ashore and slaughtered in the name of “tradition.”

But the world is watching. This brutal practice—still protected by cultural defenses—is now widely condemned for its cruelty and environmental harm.

In 2024 alone, 745 cetaceans were killed, including 153 white-sided dolphins. This year, nearly 300 pilot whales have already been slaughtered on bloody Faroese beaches.

Sea Shepherd has actively opposed the Grind since 1983. Alongside a coalition of dedicated groups, we’ve fought tirelessly to end this senseless slaughter.

Through direct action and international advocacy, we’ve exposed the brutality of these hunts and pushed for stronger accountability—particularly within the EU.

Our global alliance of conservationists and supporters continues to challenge this outdated tradition. Your support gives us the power to take a stand—and defend these animals when no one else will.

Together, we will #StopTheGrind.

In 2025, 996 pilot whales and white sided dolphins were killed in the Faroe Islands, entire pods driven into shallow bays and slaughtered in public view, including pregnant females and calves. Sea Shepherd has documented hunts dragging on well beyond what is claimed as humane, at times lasting as long as ninety minutes, proving that the grind is neither quick nor compassionate.

The Faroe Islands are a modern society with high living standards, strong infrastructure, and full access to imported foods through international trade. 

In this context, the grindadráp cannot be defended as a matter of survival, in fact it isn’t. The killing of entire dolphin pods is maintained purely as a cultural tradition. Local reporting and Sea Shepherd documentation have exposed the killing to far exceed any demand by the small part of the population that eats dolphin regularly, with meat shifted from town to town to avoid the appearance of waste.

Exposing the Myth of Food Security

When Tórshavn municipality refused a share of whale meat this year, the decision drew public criticism not because people went hungry, but because it broke with the expectation that every town must help distribute the catch. These hunts are not driven by food security, but by the need to keep the practice alive. Even when freezers are full, the grind continues, and the claim of “sustainable food” does not hold up.

Decades of research, much of it led by Faroese scientists themselves, has shown that pilot whale meat and blubber contain dangerous levels of mercury and persistent organic pollutants. Long-term consumption is linked to neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and developmental harm in children. While the Faroese government has issued limited advisories for women and children, the group that consumes the most, men (who also carry the cultural responsibility for the grindadráp) receives almost no targeted health warnings. The result is a silence that leaves those most at risk uninformed, and it raises an uncomfortable question: why is the group most exposed to these toxins given the least guidance?

Children Forced to Witness Violence

The grindadráp also raises serious questions about children’s rights. In 2023, the United Nations issued General Comment 26, which for the first time made explicit that children must be protected from exposure to violence, including violence inflicted on animals. Despite this binding obligation, Faroese children continue to stand on blood-soaked shores watching whales and dolphins killed. Psychologists warn that normalizing violence toward animals can desensitize young people, shaping their attitudes toward aggression and cruelty. When governments fail to shield children from such scenes, they are not only disregarding international law, they are failing in their duty of care to the next generation.

Beyond the Faroe Islands, international attention on the grind is growing. In Brussels, Sea Shepherd has worked with members of the European Parliament to submit a motion for resolution, using trade and political leverage to press the Faroese government to end the hunts. We will also return to Ocean Week in Brussels in November, where NGOs and policymakers join forces to discuss important pathways for the global community to exert pressure on the Faroese government to end its support for whaling These efforts build on more than four decades of campaigning, ensuring that the grindadráp is no longer treated as an isolated cultural practice but as a matter of global concern.

 As winter approaches and the hunts slow, our mission does not. The grindadráp wipes out entire pods, destroying genetic diversity and the social fabric of whale and dolphin families that has developed over millions of years. The health consequences for those who eat the meat are well documented, and the impact on children who witness the hunts is undeniable. For more than four decades, Sea Shepherd has ensured that these realities are not hidden, and we will continue to support Faroese voices calling for change while applying international pressure to end the hunts. Until the killing of entire pods is consigned to history, we will not stop.

Faroe Islands - Wikipedia

Australia News | 100 miljoen migrating red crabs cross Christmas Island: the full story of the most incredible natural processes on Earth ( videos )

In this image supplied by Parks Australia, red crabs cross a road during their annual migration on Christmas Island, Australia in October 2025. (Parks Australia via AP)

Tens of millions of red crabs are making their way to the ocean as part of their annual migration on Christmas Island, where a much smaller human population uses leaf blowers and garden rakes to help them on their way.

https://christmasislandnationalpark.gov.au/discover/highlights/red-crab-migration/  Enjoy reading about what happens when the crabs  reach the ocean and after?

Christmas Island National Park acting manager Alexia Jankowski said Thursday there were up to 200 million of the endemic crabs, also known as Gecarcoidea natalis, on the tiny Australian island territory in the Indian Ocean. Up to 100 million were expected to make their way from their forest burrows to the shoreline where they breed.

The start of the Southern Hemisphere summer rains last weekend triggered the annual odyssey.

The crabs seek shade in the middle of the day, Jankowski said, but early mornings and late afternoons bring about a vast, slow march that sees them move to the coast over roads and gardens.