In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, more than 45
million turkeys are brutally slaughtered for Americans to eat. But many people
never think about where these birds come from before they’re stuffed and plated
for our Thanksgiving dinners.
million turkeys are brutally slaughtered for Americans to eat. But many people
never think about where these birds come from before they’re stuffed and plated
for our Thanksgiving dinners.
The truth is that turkeys, like most animals raised and
killed for food, are put through hell at factory farms from the moment they’re
born until they’re violently killed.
killed for food, are put through hell at factory farms from the moment they’re
born until they’re violently killed.
These animals never get to know the love of their mothers or
feel the sunlight on their backs or the grass beneath their feet. Instead, they
are subjected to mutilations without painkillers and crammed by the thousands
into dark, windowless sheds.
feel the sunlight on their backs or the grass beneath their feet. Instead, they
are subjected to mutilations without painkillers and crammed by the thousands
into dark, windowless sheds.
To maximize profits, turkeys are bred to grow so quickly
they often become immobilized under their own weight. In fact, the natural
lifespan of a turkey is 10 years, but through special breeding,
turkeys reach “market size in just several weeks. Many suffer debilitating leg
and joint pain, heart attacks, and organ failure. Because of their immobility,
many birds have to sit in their own waste, which causes painful sores and
infections.
they often become immobilized under their own weight. In fact, the natural
lifespan of a turkey is 10 years, but through special breeding,
turkeys reach “market size in just several weeks. Many suffer debilitating leg
and joint pain, heart attacks, and organ failure. Because of their immobility,
many birds have to sit in their own waste, which causes painful sores and
infections.
Once they’ve reached the desired weight, they are rounded up,
crammed onto trucks, and shipped to slaughter. The trip can take days. Given no
food or water and exposed to all weather conditions, many turkeys die before
reaching the slaughterhouse.
crammed onto trucks, and shipped to slaughter. The trip can take days. Given no
food or water and exposed to all weather conditions, many turkeys die before
reaching the slaughterhouse.
Once the turkeys arrive, they are shackled upside down by
their feet and have their throats cut open. Some birds are improperly shackled and
miss the kill blade, and many are scalded alive in the defeathering tanks.
their feet and have their throats cut open. Some birds are improperly shackled and
miss the kill blade, and many are scalded alive in the defeathering tanks.
Mercy For Animals has conducted over half a dozen undercover
investigations of turkey factory farms in the United States and Canada. Each
time, we have documented horrific abuse:
investigations of turkey factory farms in the United States and Canada. Each
time, we have documented horrific abuse:
- Workers
kicking, stomping on, dragging, and throwing turkeys
- Baby
birds being ground up alive in giant macerating machines
- Turkeys
having their toes and beaks cut or burned off without painkillers
- Injured
turkeys left to suffer and die without veterinary care
See for yourself.
Turkeys
are just as sensitive and intelligent as the dogs and cats we adore at home.
This senseless and horrifying abuse flies in the face of everything
Thanksgiving is about: compassion and gratitude.
are just as sensitive and intelligent as the dogs and cats we adore at home.
This senseless and horrifying abuse flies in the face of everything
Thanksgiving is about: compassion and gratitude.
This year, make the compassionate choice to leave turkey off
your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Click here
for a list of vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Click here
for a list of vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
