Animal Rights Activist Put On Trial For Stolen Goats

The famous animal rights activist Wayne Hsiung was arrested on Tuesday in the Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina. After stealing two baby goats from the Transylvania County Farm in North Carolina, Hsiung may now face up to 6 years in prison. His trial date is set for July 5th.

Hsiung is a former professor at Northwestern University and the founder of one of the biggest animal rights organizations in the country, Direct Action Everywhere. It is common for his organization to investigate suspicious farms for animal cruelty as well as rescue animals that are in poor condition. “We have a duty to help all animals who are suffering” Hsiung said, explaining the values of his organization.

The goat meat farm was under investigation for around two years.

Lenny and Rain were baby goats that were suffering from Lice and Pneumonia. According to Hsiung the goats were so ill they were close to death, considering it an “emergency situation”.  The two kids were immediately brought to a veterinarian and now reside in sanctuary in North Carolina’s mountains.

Hsiung is facing a number of charges for this “crime”. Some of which include felony breaking and entering, first degree trespassing, and felony larceny. Hsiung was found by police because they found his driver’s license at the scene and also found a live streamed facebook video of the goat rescue. The District Attorney of the region, Greg Newman, does not view the animal rights activist’s actions as a good deed but rather as a crime. “If there is a person or animal being abused, there are legal channels to pursue to address that. But stepping on someone’s property to do that is not going to fly, and if that person broke the law we will have to prosecute him that way regardless of reasons.”

Hsiung said of his arrest ““I can’t believe they’ll send us to prison for helping a baby goat”. The video below also shows Wayne Hsiungs feelings about his trail.

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