Target: Carla Rodriguez, District Attorney of Sonoma County, California
Goal: Investigate alleged cruelty at a major poultry supplier and seek criminal charges with meaningful penalties if evidence confirms that gravely ill chickens were left to suffer.
Reports from a seven-week criminal trial describe four chickens—later called Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea—allegedly taken from a large poultry processing supply chain after an activist claimed the birds were “incredibly ill.” Court statements and filings reference months of inquiry into potential abuse, including a veterinarian’s concern over images that appeared to show animals being boiled alive. Prosecutors, however, say the activist’s actions were illegal, and company representatives have publicly denied mistreatment. These conflicting accounts still point to a critical question: were sick birds left to suffer inside a high-volume system that prioritizes speed over welfare?
Testimony and news coverage further indicate the activist entered the site multiple times, attached GPS devices to delivery vehicles, and removed the four birds from a trailer during a demonstration outside. Prosecutors reportedly dropped an initial theft count after stating the birds were valued at $24 and were sick, while maintaining other charges. Defense attorneys say this “was a rescue, not a crime,” and assert that authorities failed to intervene despite signs of distress. The supplier disputes those assertions and reputedly characterizes the activist group as extremist, insisting animals were not mistreated.
When allegations point toward animals in severe distress, swift and thorough scrutiny is essential. A comprehensive, independent investigation can determine whether state anti-cruelty laws were violated inside the facility and, if so, who bears responsibility. This petition urges the District Attorney to prioritize an evidence-driven probe into the reported conditions for Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea, and to pursue appropriate charges and sentences against any parties found to have allowed animals to deteriorate in pain. Justice should reflect verified facts and ensure stronger oversight to prevent future harm.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear District Attorney Rodriguez,
We respectfully ask your office to conduct a full investigation into the treatment of four sick chickens—referred to as Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea—allegedly removed from a major poultry supplier by an activist now on trial. Court statements and media reports describe months of inquiry into potential cruelty, including a veterinarian’s concern over images that purportedly showed animals being boiled alive, while the company denies any mistreatment. These sharply conflicting accounts demand a careful, independent review of the birds’ condition and any practices that allegedly left them to suffer.
If evidence confirms criminal neglect or cruelty within the supply chain, we urge you to file appropriate charges and seek penalties that reflect the harm, including fines, probation terms mandating improved welfare controls, and compliance audits. Robust enforcement can deter future misconduct and help protect countless animals who move through these systems every day.
We further encourage coordination with relevant agencies so that any substantiated violations lead to corrective action across the operation, not just in isolated instances. Transparent, evidence-based outcomes will reassure the public that animal-welfare laws apply in high-volume facilities as surely as anywhere else.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: woodley wonderworks
