Alternative Thanksgiving: Save A Turkey, Let Him Feast

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Thanksgiving has always been about the turkey to me. Nevermind the cranberry sauce and green bean casserole, give me a good cut of the turkey breast and I'm a happy girl for the day. However, I came across some information today that kind of rained on my Turkey Day Parade. 

Sure, we are all thankful for and enjoy our delicious Thanksgiving Day feast, but do we take the time to think about the turkey that gave his life for your feast? Probably not. (I'll admit it's a little odd to think your food once had a life.)

After reading through the Farm Sanctuary Adopt-A-Turkey website, I found out about the hell our succulent turkeys endure to become a Thanksgiving Day staple on our dining room table. 

Approximately 45 million turkeys are raised for slaughter solely for the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. A total of 250 to 300 million turkeys are raised annually to meet the demands of turkey consumption, which averages about 17.5 pounds per person per year. 

Most turkeys are confined to about a few feet per bird, causing the wild-natured animals to excessively fight. I will spare you the details, but the farmers take very cruel measures to try to curb this behavior. (For the strong stomached, click here.) 

Modern turkeys are now genetically manipulated to grow twice as large and fast as their ancestors. According to Lancaster Farming, when you compare the growth rate of modern turkeys to humans, if a seven pound human baby grew at the same rate of a turkey, an 18-week old baby would weigh 1,500 pounds. 

To date, the Adopt-A-Turkey program has saved over 1,000 gobblers (not the sandwich) and has helped provide safe and loving homes for them.

There are two ways you can contribute and help save a turkey this holiday season:

1. Eveybody: For just $25, you can sponsor "adopt" a turkey (just like you would an Ethiopian child) and you will receive a special Adopt-A-Turkey certificate, color photo of your turkey, fun details about the bird, a Farm Sanctuary membership for one year and a one year subscription to Sanctuary newsletter. Your donation will also be used to help educate and advocate on behalf of turkeys everywhere.

2. Vegetarians Only: You can literally adopt a turkey and take him home. If there is anyone in St. Louis that not only has the compassion but the necessary land, here is the adoption application. The Farm Sanctuary staff will personally deliver your new friend to your home via the Turkey Express. 

One of the Farm Sanctuary's annual traditions is the The Feeding of the Turkeys Ceremony, where people in California and New York switch roles with the turkeys and feed them for the Thanksgiving holiday (by switching roles, I don't mean that the turkeys are eating humans.) The guests of honor are treated to pumpkin pie, cooked squash, cranberries, and other traditional Thanksgiving cuisine. 

I understand the likelihood of foregoing a turkey this Thursday and "saving a life" is slim, as you have probably completed your grocery shopping, but perhaps the knowledge of their harsh journey will make you even more thankful this year.

I'm certainly thankful that we don't grow at the rate of a turkey.