Home / Crime and Justice / Berkeley Grad Jailed for Poultry Plant Chicken Theft
Berkeley Grad Jailed for Poultry Plant Chicken Theft
24 Dec
Summary
- Activist Zoe Rosenberg sentenced to 90 days for rescuing four chickens.
- She received a felony conspiracy and misdemeanor conviction.
- A judge ordered over $100,000 in restitution to the poultry company.
Zoe Rosenberg, a 23-year-old UC Berkeley alumna and member of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), began a 90-day jail sentence on December 10, 2025, at the Sonoma County Jail. She was convicted of felony conspiracy and three misdemeanor counts stemming from a 2023 incident at a Perdue-owned slaughterhouse. Rosenberg is slated for early release on December 24, 2025, to complete her sentence under house arrest.
Prosecutors alleged that Rosenberg and other DxE activists infiltrated the Petaluma Poultry facility, disguised, and removed four chickens. They also reportedly stole business records and planted tracking devices on transport trailers over a two-month period in 2023. Rosenberg maintained that she intervened to save the sick and neglected birds, whom she named Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea.
The court ordered Rosenberg to pay more than $100,000 in restitution to Petaluma Poultry. While she expressed concern about accessing necessary medical care in jail, she stated her commitment to animal rights remains unwavering. Petaluma Poultry and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau condemned DxE's actions, citing disregard for employee safety and food security.
