What would any of us think of an ancient culture or religion that slits the throats of 46 million individual animals for a one-day tradition celebration? That’s exactly what we do in the United States to our magnificent colored turkey which is the largest native bird in North America and such a part of our heritage.

We have selectively bred and genetically altered its stature and beauty and replaced it with a fast grown, color change to white pinfeathers for a more pleasing dressed roast and disfigured body with enormous breasts to produce white meat.

To create the popular, cheap super market broad breasted turkey comes with horrific pain and suffering. They experience increased heart problems, lower immunity and suffer from lameness due to the top heavy breasts where they are barely able to walk and forage on their own, are unable to fly, cannot breed naturally and have to be artificially inseminated. Raised on huge confined industrial farms, their short miserable lives will end at only 4 to 5 months of age.

Today there is a growing number of families and friends that are sickened by this out-dated traditional sacrifice and celebrate the Thanksgiving meal like everyone else without displaying a corpse as a centerpiece on a decorated table. Thankfully more of us are moving toward a more compassionate society where all lives matter.

Covid 19 has created many shortages of basic human necessities at retail outlets but thankfully our rescued turkeys will not be forgotten on Thanksgiving Day and once again rejoice with extra treats and excitedly gobble back in thanks to our giving.

Ralph Turner, Founder
Precious Life Animal Sanctuary