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Hi John,

I'm facing a felony trial and years in jail for rescuing four neglected and suffering chickens from a Perdue slaughterhouse. Yesterday, we lost an important motion. My judge ruled that I will not be allowed to present a necessity defense at trial.

The necessity defense allows an individual to do something that would ordinarily be illegal in order to prevent a “significant evil” from happening to someone -- for example, trespassing onto private property to save a child who is drowning in a pool. My attorney, Chris Carraway with the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, argued that I was preventing a significant evil by rescuing neglected animals and taking them to get veterinary care. My prosecutors argued that nonhuman animals are not "someone" under the law, but instead "something." They equated animals to "objects," "bacteria" and "microscopic life." Unfortunately, Sonoma County Judge Kenneth Gnoss sided with my prosecutors. He denied my motion to use the necessity defense, leaving me stripped of the ability to argue to the jury why this emergency rescue was necessary. It will now be much harder to present evidence about the animal cruelty I observed at Perdue's Petaluma Poultry, including the condition that Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea were in when I rescued them.

*I just posted a video explaining this ruling. Please watch and share the video on* *Instagram* ( [link removed] ) *and* *Facebook* ( [link removed] ) *.*

This is a big blow to my chances at trial, but I remain hopeful.

Throughout history, and today, we see those in power denying obvious truths and punishing compassion. And yet, again and again, people have stood up anyway. That’s what I’m doing now. The court may have ruled that animals are “something,” but we know they are each someone —with feelings, personality, and a life that matters.

This case has the power to expose that fundamental truth to more people, but the stakes are high. I am risking nearly half a decade in jail by taking this case to trial. I want to make sure it is worth it. It would mean the world to me if you would join me to help amplify the voices of the animals, both inside and outside the courtroom. You can attend my trial in person in Santa Rosa, CA. *The Perdue Rescue Trial starts September 15th and is expected to last around 2 weeks, though you can attend for any amount of time.* *Please register here* ( [link removed] ) *.*
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* Until every animal is free,
Zoe

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