While millions of families will gather together to gobble down
their Thanksgiving fowl this Thursday, some turkeys will give
thanks to all the vegetarians and vegans who chose not to eat
them.
Nearly 300 million turkeys are killed every year, according to
the USDA, and many of these turkeys are killed in inhumane
ways.
Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary, an organization to protect farm
animals from cruel farming practices, has waged an annual campaign
called Adopt-A-Turkey to save turkeys from being slaughtered.
While Farm Sanctuary is concerned with all farm animals, turkeys
are specifically exempt from the Humane Slaughter Act, resulting in
severe turkey abuse.
Typically, thousands of turkeys will be crammed together in
slaughterhouses before they are killed, according to the Compassion
in World Farming Trust.
The killing process involves hanging the birds upside down and
dipping their heads in electrically charged water to stun them.
Then they have their heads cut off.
Farm Sanctuary aims to end these brutal tactics.
The Adopt-A-Turkey campaign gives compassionate individuals two
options to shield the tasty fowl from carnivores looking to give
thanks by eating some turkey.
Turkey lovers may donate $15 to “adopt” a turkey.
The adopters receive a photograph of their turkey, a biography of
their turkey, an adoption certificate and a year-long subscription
to Farm Sanctuary’s newsletter.
For those who wish to be more proactive, option number two
allows people to actually home adopt two or more turkeys.
Not so fast, though, for anyone scheming about “home
adopting” their main course ““ this option is only open
to vegetarians and vegans, and an application is required.
The turkeys cannot be adopted individually, because they need
companionship, said Susan Weiner, a spokeswoman for Farm
Sanctuary.
Weiner said the number of turkeys available for adoption varies
from year to year.
“It depends on the number of rescues that were carried out
during the year,” she said. “They are usually abuse
cases.”
Farm Sanctuary routinely rescues abused farm animals and
transfers them to the shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., or Orland,
Calif.
Fifteen-dollar adopters can choose their turkey by name on their
adoption form. Some of the available fowl have names like Darby,
Tuttle and Voilà .
The fee pays for turkey feed and veterinary care for the birds,
according to a Farm Sanctuary press release. These turkeys live at
one of Farm Sanctuary’s shelters.
Every Thanksgiving, the shelters turn the tables, holding feasts
for turkeys rather than feasting on them. The staff prepares a
buffet of squash, cranberries, pumpkin pie and more for the turkeys
to indulge themselves.
Adrian Cheng, a second-year physics student, plans to eat turkey
with his family for Thanksgiving and said he will not feel guilty
when he does.
But he does care about the welfare of turkeys.
“I would set them free in the hills of Vermont,”
Cheng said, citing his favored alternative to donating to Farm
Sanctuary. He is unsure whether the shelters of Farm Sanctuary are
the best option available for the turkeys.
A number of celebrities have taken part in the Adopt-A-Turkey
program.
Kim Basinger, former “E.R.” cast member Noah Wyle
and even the head-spinning, bile-spewing star of “The
Exorcist,” Linda Blair, have adopted turkeys.