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Hi John,

Zoe Rosenberg’s felony animal rescue trial is generating widespread interest in the question: Do suffering animals have the right to be rescued? The courtroom in Santa Rosa has been packed with more than 100 supporters. Outside the courthouse, UnchainedTV is live on the ground, streaming coverage ( [link removed] ) for supporters across the world. The start of trial has also been covered by media outlets including KQED ( [link removed] ) , the Associated Press ( [link removed] ) , The Daily Californian ( [link removed] ) , and others.

This morning, the Los Angeles Times published a powerful op-ed by law professors Kristen Stilt and Matthew Liebman titled “Why rescuing animals should never be a crime” — which highlights Zoe’s case directly. You can read it here ( [link removed] ).

Zoe’s defense is being led by the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project ( [link removed] ) , and their hard work has already led to some wins in these first two days. Here's a recap of what happened in the first two days of court:

* After 20 months wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor, Zoe finally had the monitor removed yesterday ( [link removed] ).
* Judge Gnoss ruled that defense witnesses will not be allowed to testify about prior investigations into Petaluma Poultry factory farms. However, Zoe will be permitted to testify in a limited way about how those investigations shaped her beliefs and intent. This includes how the police-sanctioned rescue of Rose, one injured chicken who went from Petaluma Poultry's abuse to Zoe's care, shaped Zoe's belief in the legal right to rescue animals.
* The judge ruled that evidence about the conditions of the four rescued birds, Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea, will be admitted. Carla Cabral, the primary caretaker of these individuals after their rescue, will be allowed to testify about their condition, and their veterinary records showing parasites and infectious diseases will be introduced.

Jury selection begins tomorrow, Thursday, at 1:30pm. The process is expected to last several days. Judge Gnoss explained that the court will call more than the usual number of potential jurors for the jury pool because this case has stirred strong feelings among the public.

Thank you for standing with us as this important trial continues to bring attention to the rights that all animals deserve. You can follow the Perdue Rescue Trial X account ( [link removed] ) and our Court Watch blog ( [link removed] ) for more frequent updates.

Cassie

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