By John Di Leonardo
Ahead of Thanksgiving, my organization Humane Long Island has rescued two turkeys, two chickens, and two bunnies from New York City live slaughter markets, trading vegan roasts for the lives of these sweet babies. The turkeys, now named Henry and Kyle, are 3 months old and still peeping. The ends of their beaks and toes are severed — standard practice for birds on factory farms — and Henry is suffering from septic arthritis due to a wing injury suffered on the factory farm where he lived before being sent to slaughter. We've already rushed him to the vet and are administering antibiotics. Despite their injuries, Henry and Kyle are the lucky ones.
Acharya Tulsi Ji (Photo provided by: Arvind Vora)
46 million turkeys will be consumed for Thanksgiving this week alone (an official holiday in the USA celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November for the bounty of harvest nature provided, also celebrated in half a dozen other nations for the same reason but on different dates.) These birds have no federal protections. On factory farms, they’re kept in cramped and filthy sheds by the thousands and killed when they’re still babies: only 3 to 5 months old. Driven psychotic by their harsh realities, they self-mutilate and are driven to cannibalism. Rather than improving conditions, farmers resort to severing–without painkillers–the ends of their toes, their snoods–the long protuberance on their face they use to show affection for one another–and even the ends of their beaks–which are filled with nerve endings, and they use like we use our fingers–to minimize the harm they can do to their “product”. In their short lives, these turkeys will never know even the simple pleasures of parenthood, building a nest (their home), or even feeling the sun on their backs before they’re hung upside down and have their throats slit.
These cruelties are entirely preventable; and ahead of Thanksgiving, Humane Long Island is helping others prevent these cruelties by not only rescuing them from slaughter, but by partnering with PETA, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, and Suffolk County Legislator Rebecca Sanin to distribute nearly a thousand delicious turkey-free meals that both turkeys and our communities can be thankful for.
For this week's Anuvrat, I invite you to join us in celebrating a cruelty-free Thanksgiving, leaving animals off your plate and supporting your local indigenous or animal welfare organizations. With a buffet of plant-based options, such as Tofurky, Gardein, Field Roast, and more, available at local grocery stores, it has never been easier to pursue a kind and compassionate, animal-free lifestyle. For help, or to sponsor Henry and Kyle, please contact us at www.humanelongisland.org.
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John Di Leonardo is the founding director of Humane Long Island. He was previously the Senior Manager of Grassroots Campaigns and Animals in Entertainment Campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). He has a Master's degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College. He also earned a graduate certificate in Jain Studies from the International School of Jain Studies (ISJS) in India. John can be reached at [email protected]. (Photo provided by John Di Leonardo)
