MONTICELLO — Amber Canavan stood with supporters on the steps of the Sullivan County Courthouse on Tuesday before beginning her 30-day jail sentence for stealing two ducks from Hudson Valley Foie Gras in Ferndale in 2011.

On June 3, Canavan, 29, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.

Canavan, who graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in May, initially faced a felony charge of burglary, but that was reduced to a misdemeanor in her plea.

“I go to jail knowing that these animals are in a far worse place than me,” said Canavan.

Actor James Cromwell, known for his roles in films such as “Babe,” “The Green Mile” and “The Sum of All Fears,” was there to voice his support for Canavan and insist that more people need to take action to bring an end to animal abuse.

“It's because of people like Amber that change happens,” said Cromwell, who has a home in Sullivan County. “This kind of cruelty and insensitivity dehumanizes us, and is ultimately what is the cause of the destruction of this planet.

Cromwell is no stranger to the cause of animal rights. A vegetarian nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Farmer Hoggett in the 1995 production of “Babe,” Cromwell frequently speaks out against animal cruelty on behalf of PETA, often for the treatment of pigs.

“People have to get in touch with their humanity and understand that we can't do this to other creatures for no reason other than a delicacy that should have gone out with Louis XIV,” he said.

Officials from Hudson Valley Foie Gras have described Canavan as “a thief” and stated they may take further legal action against her if she continues to make “slanderous and damaging” remarks.