Americans are being asked to adopt a turkey rather than serve one up for dinner during the holiday season.
Adopt not eat. That's the message going out to Americans from animal sanctuaries as Thanksgiving and Christmas approaches. More than 220 million turkeys are killed for food each year in the US – more than 68 million during the November and December holiday season, according to Farm Sanctuary, a national farm animal rescue and advocacy organisation. Its Adopt a Turkey project encourages people to pay US$35 to symbolically adopt one of its rescue “spokesturkeys” for the holiday season instead of eating one. Animal lovers can choose between Faye, Celebor, Alexandra, Thelma, Bowie or an entire flock for US$150.
The Gentle Barn, which has animal sanctuaries in California, Tennessee and Missouri, is pushing its "Turkey Guardian" programme. For the same price, donors will receive a "digital or print certificate with your chosen turkey’s photo and bio to display on your holiday table". Those who are truly passionate about saving turkeys can stump up for the deluxe US$1,000 ‘Flock Plus Turkey Guardian package‘, which includes a special zoom engagement with the turkeys and the founders of The Gentle Barn.
