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Update
On March 27, 2023, the driver who struck and killed Regan Russell pleaded guilty to careless driving. He was given a $2,000 fine, ordered to attend 12 months of probation, and prohibited from operating a motor vehicle except for travel to and from work. Animal activists held signs and waited outside the courthouse. They were joined by Russell’s parents after the verdict, and Bill Russell, Regan’s father, gave a touching statement:I think justice for Regan is going to have to be changed. I think it’s going to be justice by Regan with all the animal rights converts she’s made who haven’t known her and who are carrying her torch.
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We at Mercy For Animals honor the life and mourn the loss of Regan Russell—a longtime animal protection activist who was recently killed by a transport truck full of pigs on their way to slaughter. A devoted member of Toronto Pig Save, 65-year-old Russell was killed while attending a vigil outside the Fearmans Pork slaughterhouse.
According to witnesses, Russell had been giving water and comfort to pigs inside a transport truck shortly before she died. Russell’s life partner, Mark Powell, said in a statement:
She died fighting for what she believed in. Whatever it cost, she would pay. … Sometimes it’s money. Sometimes, it’s this.
Toronto Pig Save posted on their website that Russell had attended weekly vigils for years and had been an advocate for animals since 1979. Russell not only cared about justice for animals but was passionate about racial justice and protecting the most vulnerable.
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The day she died, Russell was protesting the enactment of Ontario’s new ag-gag law. The law criminalizes entering a farming operation without the farmer’s consent. “Consent” is broadly defined to ensure it applies to anyone on the premises—including those permitted on the premises, such as employees. This means that anyone found to have filmed on the farm could be prosecuted—not for filming but for entering the farm without “consent.” This law, along with others like it, is designed to sweep evidence of animal cruelty under the rug and shield the meat industry from consequences.
Russell also provided pigs on transport trucks with water. Animal transport is notorious for cramming animals into overcrowded trailers and forcing them to endure grueling conditions in all weather extremes without food, water, or rest. The little bit of love shown to them by Russell and her fellow activists is likely the only kindness those pigs ever received.
We can all make a positive difference in the world by being more like Regan Russell. Get involved today. Sign up to learn about volunteer opportunities, Mercy For Animals news, and more right here.
Cover photos: Toronto Pig Save