Sarah was living a mother's worst nightmare. She had recently given birth inside a massive dairy factory farm in California's Central Valley. Her newborn son was struggling to nurse on her distended and inflamed udders. So Sarah, already in pain herself, now had to watch her baby suffer, unable to do anything to help. Fortunately, DxE investigators arrived just in time. They had seen the facility's massive goat graveyard -- where dozens of mother and baby goats are regularly dumped -- and they decided to investigate to find out why so many animals were dying or being killed. They documented frequent coughing and sneezing and goats with engorged and distended teats. They rescued Sarah, her son Johnny, and a second baby, named Castiel, who was collapsed and in a state of respiratory distress. Sarah and Castiel were both found to have pneumonia and received medical treatment. Sarah got pain medication for her inflamed udders and both babies were able to nurse from her. But little Castiel was not doing well. He had a high fever and was still quite lethargic even on medication. For weeks, he had to be hand-fed and carefully monitored until finally, he beat his infection. At last, Sarah, Johnny, and Castiel were healthy, safe, and free to frolic among the flowers as a family.

During the #SonomaRescueTrial, DxE investigators returned to Sunrise Farms and Reichardt Duck Farm to document criminal animal cruelty and continue saving lives. While Deputy District Attorney Robert Waner has been busy prosecuting animal rescue, activists have been busy exposing the real crimes, including birds left with painful, untreated injuries and diseased ducks collapsed on their backs slowly starving to death. Elsie had a painful eye infection likely caused by other birds pecking at her in the crowded, stressful environment at Sunrise Farms. She needed surgery to remove her eye, but now she is thriving at a sanctuary. River was stuck on his back and his wings were covered in blood from thrashing against the wire floor at Reichardt. Oakley was collapsed and unable to stand, shivering because her feathers were soaked with feces. After her rescue, she was diagnosed with septic arthritis in one of her legs. She was given antibiotics and other medicine, and finally given the chance to go in the water and take some weight off her feet! River and Oakley are still recovering after weeks of treatment.

18 chickens were saved from slaughter at the Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse in Sonoma County as hundreds of activists gathered outside to bear witness as part of the Animal Liberation Conference. An initial team, dressed as workers, rescued four chickens from a slaughter truck parked inside the facility, while waves of other teams rescued animals from trucks both inside the facility and on their way to the slaughterhouse. Activists documented chickens too weak to stand, crammed inside transport cages, and covered in blood. This action comes after 5 years of documenting horrific cruelty at Petaluma Poultry suppliers across Sonoma County and occurred in conjunction with the release of a brand new mini-documentary further exposing Petaluma Poultry for abusing animals, spreading life-threatening diseases, and lying to the public.

An investigation at Perdue's Petaluma Poultry found rampant disease, abuse, and two little chickens who were barely clinging to life.

While hundreds rallied in support of the right to rescue animals from abuse, a few activists delivered four “feeder” mice and a suffering betta fish to safety

Dora had probably never been treated with kindness by a human, yet she must have sensed something different when investigators with Direct Action Everywhere came into the barn where she was imprisoned. She must have been holding onto some feeling like hope, because as one of these investigators, whose name is Alicia, passed by her open cage, Dora jumped onto Alicia’s backpack – and stayed! She did the whole investigation with Alicia and came out with her too.