Meyenberg's Vera Goat Dairy

In early 2025, DxE investigators discovered a massive, illegal dead pile at Vera Goat Dairy, a "Certified Humane," Whole Foods-supplying goat dairy in California's Central Valley. They observed dozens of dead mother and baby goats being dumped on a regular basis, and they began a months-long investigation into the facility to find out why so many animals were dying. Vera supplies the nation's largest goat milk producer, Meyenberg Goat Milk. Inside Vera, investigators documented mothers with engorged and distended teats, animals with respiratory infections, and violations of both "Certified Humane" standards and state animal cruelty laws. Read more here.

An attorney on DxE's legal team repeatedly reported these violations to the local authorities, including the Kings County Sheriff and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board which had cited Vera in 2021 for illegally disposing of dead animals on site. But the authorities failed to take enforcement action. So DxE investigators went back to Vera on May 27, 2025 to document the conditions again in broad daylight, and they rescued two emaciated baby goats with respiratory infections. They carried the goats, whom they named Phoebe and Celia, to safety.

Then, they returned to the facility with dozens of other activists to tell the authorities about the conditions they had just witnessed and urge them to investigate Vera's animal cruelty. Instead, the Kings County Sheriff arrested the rescuers. In March 2026, the District Attorney filed felony charges against Joe, Carla, Taj, and Sally. They were charged with felony grand theft, felony conspiracy, and trespass and faced up to 6.5 years in prison for saving Phoebe and Celia. Both goats were taken to a veterinarian and treated for their respiratory infections as well as for their conjunctivitis and overgrown hooves. Today, they are living in safety and peace.

Sally, Carla, Joe, and Taj had their preliminary hearing on May 19, 2026. Judge Trevino ruled there is enough evidence for the defendants to stand trial. You can read more about what happened at the preliminary hearing here or watch a short video recap here. Judge Trevino asked to see the evidence of animal cruelty that DxE documented at Vera Goat Dairy prior to the rescue, and at their next hearing on August 25th, after he had reviewed the cruelty and additional arguments by the defense, he changed his mind. He ruled to reduce all of the four defendants’ felony charges to misdemeanors. Then he went even further.

He indicated he is considering dismissing the case through a judicial diversion, a process where a judge gives certain requirements for defendants to follow in order for their case to be dismissed. In this case, the judge mentioned community service and 6 months of probation. The prosecution objected, but the judge set a hearing for September 23rd to discuss diversion and seems likely to grant it.

While the prosecution charged multiple felonies and even sought to put ankle monitors on the rescuers, the judge’s actions suggest he does not see animal rescue as any kind of serious crime. A huge thank you to our incredible attorneys at the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, the Civil Liberties Defense Center, and our local counsel Kevin Little and Michael Aed. Their hard work filing the animal cruelty evidence and related motions led to this significant reduction in the charges, and quite possibly made the judge see this case in a new light. Stay tuned for updates after September 23rd.