Unoffensive Animal

18th December, Northern Italy.

Received anonymously via email:

ENGLISH (translation):

“TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTMAS, WE DANCED ON THE CAGES WHERE HUNTERS LOCK UP BIRDS USED AS LIVE DECOYS. A TOTAL OF FIVE CAGES WERE PUT OUT. SOMETIMES WHAT IS LEGAL IS UNJUST: HUNTING IS LEGALIZED MURDER THAT WE MUST FIGHT AGAINST, AND WE WILL NOT STOP BECAUSE ANIMALS ARE OUR BROTHERS, BECAUSE OUR MORALS REQUIRE US TO ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BECAUSE THOSE WHO USE FORCE AGAINST THE DEFENSELESS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED HUMAN. WE DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM THIS CONCEPT OF “HUMANITY.”

THE ALF IS WATHING AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO HIDE.

A.L.F”

ITALIAN (original):

“PER FESTEGGIARE L’ARRIVO DEL NATALE ABBIAMO BALLATO SULLE GABBIE DOVE I CACCIATORI RINCHIUDONO GLI UCCELLI USATI COME RICHIAMI VIVI. IN TOTALE SONO STATE MESSE FUORI USO 5 GABBIE. ALLE VOLTE CIO’ CHE E’ LEGALE E’ INGIUSTO: LA CACCIA E’ UN ASSASSINIO LEGALIZZATO CONTRO CUI SI DEVE COMBATTERE E NON CI FERMEREMO PERCHE’ GLI ANIMALI SONO I NOSTRI FRATELLI, PERCHE’ LA NOSTRA MORALE CI IMPONE DI FARE SEMPRE CIO’ CHE E’ GIUSTO, PERCHE’ CHI USA LA FORZA CONTRO GLI INDIFESI NON PUO’ ESSERE CONSIDERATO UMANO. NOI PRENDIAMO LE DISTANZE DA QUESTO CONCETTO DI “UMANITA'”.

THE ALF IS WATHING AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO HIDE.

A.L.F”

22nd December, France.

Received anonymously via email:

“Every year Christmas is a horrible time for non human animals.

The most beautiful act of solidarity with them is to get out there and free them from these horrible conditions.

For Christmas let’s all get out there, and free them all !

A.L.F”

22nd December, South East UK

Received anonymously via email:

“We knew of a small backyard breeder who makes their money exploiting dogs and cats and so have been keeping a close eye on them, waiting for an opportunity.

They are almost always at home and we regularly hear distressed barking. One night while checking their garden we heard meowing from their shed. We broke in and had a look around. We found one very sad kitten who was shivering in a small filthy cage. Obviously we couldn’t leave her there. She was sick with gunky eyes and a snooty nose which is why we assume she hadn’t been sold, she was also skinny and covered in fleas.

We took her to a trusted animal rehabber who has provided her with so much love and care. Just 5 days later and she was unrecognisable with clean eyes and nose and finally free of fleas.

Fuck all breeders and fuck every single person that keeps them going by buying animals. Animals are not products, they are not toys for holidays.

Death to speciesism.

12 days Christmas.

SEALF”

14th December, Nottingham UK.

Received anonymously via email:

“12DaysOfChristmas

Turkeys are already being slaughtered in the build up to Christmas. Their corpses will be the centerpiece of so many families tables who won’t spare a second to think about what their short life was like and how they came to end up mutilated and packaged ready to be picked off a shelf. Our initial target had already been emptied with all the birds sent to slaughter. We left the empty barns, that had been full to bursting with young curious birds not long ago, heavy hearted. We went to the next nearest known location.

It’s not hard to locate many farms and work out access when you spend some time searching the internet and walking around on the odd free days and nights. You’d be surprised by how many doors are unlocked or just a broken padlock away from opening. Flood lights and cameras don’t matter if you cover your face, have someone keeping lookout and know your exits.

While the farmers snored we entered an unlocked barn near their house at our second location. This time we found it still filled with turkeys. They were loud when they saw us but as quickly and quietly as we could we safely caught and put into carriers six turkeys. We only had homes for six or we would have taken more.

We sadly left the rest and disappeared from the farm before anyone woke up. We took them to a safe house were a nice comfortable space had been prepared for them. They got served a big salad with greens and grapes and blueberries in the morning.

We wish we could give this fresh start to all of them but as long as the system that commodifies them goes largely unchallenged it will continue.

Its not enough to opt out, we have to fight back.

Some anarchists”

[Editor’s note: Every time we receive an ARM communique we feel the need to remember people that we are a platform that received anonymous reports and have no idea about the identity of the anonymous writers. The video sent to us can be seen on the website, but will not be published on YouTube or social media to avoid the platforms being taken down.]

Received anonymously via email:

“A chairde/friends,

The Animal Rights Militia of Ireland wishes to send our solidarity this holiday season to all those who are incarcerated because they chose to fight for a better world – whether that be for animal or human liberation, for anarchism and for socialism, for making a stand against the ongoing genocide in Palestine or for their own civil liberty. We salute you and we are with you. 

Throughout 2024, the ARM has grown significantly in number, not only in Ireland but across Europe. The rise in this movement has been the awakening that sometimes the only language that those who commit heinous acts of cruelty against animals understand is that of violence. 

We strongly believe that there are people out there who cannot be changed through dialogue alone. People who will continue to rape and pillage through our land with not a care in the world, so long as their bank balance is increasing. 

In 2024, the ARM restructured itself into a quasi-military group, with units in all four provinces of Ireland. We have singlehanded closed down several puppy farms, liberated dogs from horrendous situations, removed neglected horses, targeted people who were convicted of animal abuse, and ran a targeted campaign of black propaganda and direct against against those in the hunting community. 

We structured ourselves in the shadow of the revolutionary men and women who fought for an Ireland free from oppressive forces. Whilst their goal has yet to be met, ARM exists to highlight that those who oppress Ireland do not only stand on the necks of her people, but her rivers, her fauna and her flora. 

Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland, has been poisoned by capitalist greed, and failed by the politicians and environmental agencies in the north. 
Companies like Moy Park (chicken processing factory), Emerson Group (Sand dredging company) and large scale animal agri. farms have been allowed to dump toxic waste into the lough with zero repercussions. 

To make matters worse, the Lough is owned by English ‘nobility’ – the Earl of Shaftesbury, who benefits heavily from cut he gets from the dredging companies. An English aristocrat owning a single pebble in Ireland in 2024 is beyond crass, even without allowing blue-green algae to poison our island.  

In 2025, we will play a massive part in ensuring our land is no longer raped by these parasites. The Lough and her surrounding rivers are not estimated to recover for almost a century because of the blue-green algae. What point is there in fighting for a free Ireland if we are only to be united with her on her deathbed? 

In the coming year, we pledge our commitment to striking fear into those who partake in bloodsports. Until there is a ban in place, and until that ban is enforced, you can expect us. We are going to ensure that the most violent hunts in Ireland disband completely. 

We pledge to shut down the largest puppy mills on this island. Mills that currently generate millions each year at the expense and exploitation of innocent animals. No more. 

We implore each country to start their own charter. 

Respect existence or expect resistance. 
No more fucking about. 

Animal Rights Militia – Ireland.”

16th December, Dorset UK.

Received anonymously via email:

“Operation Christmas Miracle: We risked our freedom to rescue three turkeys from Christmas slaughter in Dorset. Watch their great escape.

Turkeys are known for their empathy towards others and their strong social bonds. They have excellent memories and have better eyesight than humans! But at the slaughterhouse, 10 million turkeys will be hung upside down by their legs and have their throats slit just for a Christmas meal that will soon be forgotten. The supermarkets don’t show you that in their festive ads. 

Now, Mary, Eve and Star will have the chance to live the life every animal deserves. They are symbols of freedom and resistance against animal oppression.

You have the power to save lives, too. Don’t let your body be a graveyard for tortured souls. This Christmas, join the rebellion. Choose vegan and free animals.

12 days of christmas”