Slaughterhouse Sit-In: 23 Cited In Oakland

OAKLAND, CA – More than 200 animal activists held a sit-in Sunday afternoon at a slaughterhouse in Oakland, activists with the group Direct Action Everywhere said.

The activists went inside Saba Live Poultry at 845 Kennedy St. and sat on the kill floor with flowers in their hands to demand that all of the animals be released and the slaughterhouse shut down.

They tied dozens of flowers on the animal's cages and onto slaughterhouse blades.

"People from all backgrounds understand that animals are living creatures, not things," activist Samer Masterson said in a statement. "It's time for our political system to catch up and give animals the rights they
deserve."

A person at Saba Live Poultry said the owner of the slaughterhouse was not available to comment as of late Monday.

Police said officers cited 23 people for offenses such as trespassing and livestock theft.

Activists said they rescued a baby lamb and took him to a veterinarian, and said he will be taken to a sanctuary. A baby quail and rabbit were also allegedly taken by the activists.

Activists contacted Oakland Animal Services and are asking city officials to seize the animals and shut down the slaughterhouse.

Rebecca Katz, director of Oakland Animal Services, said they will look into the situation at the business.

Officers have been out to Saba Live Poultry before and cited the company for not providing enough room for birds at the slaughterhouse, Katz said.

But on May 7, animal services officers were told by officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which regulates businesses such as Saba Live Poultry, that the business was in compliance with
applicable laws.

The website for the parent company Saba Fresh Meat says that the company provides meat from rabbits, lamb, sheep, goat, roosters, red boilers, white boilers, red fowls, Guinea hens, ducks and other animals.

• ALSO SEE: SF Tech Firm CEO Charged With Sexually Abusing Son, 3

--Bay City News/File image via Pixabay