Not everyone has something to be thankful for this upcoming autumn holiday.

I can already hear what some are thinking: everyone has something to give thanks. But that’s not true. A hint: it just might be the unappreciated dead birds that annually sit in the centers of elaborately set dinner tables all over the country.

According to Gentle Thanksgiving, 300 million innocent turkeys are slaughtered in the U.S. each year. No matter how guiltless they are, they are still subjected to the death penalty. Their lives are regarded by many as little more than a centerpiece.

Many communities have traditions in which they celebrate the death of turkeys. Yellville, Arkansas, hosts an annual event called the Turkey Trot Festival. During this so-called “trot,” wild turkeys are dropped from private planes traveling around 70 miles per hour, and up to 1,000 feet in the air. Since the turkeys are disoriented and unable to fly normally, most birds plunge toward the ground to their death.

These animals are often considered dull with no presence. But while gobbling turkey this Thanksgiving, consider this: they aren’t very different than cute house pets. Just like cats and dogs, they have personalities. According to Tom Savage, Oregon State University poultry scientist, turkeys care for their young, have a cluck similar to a bark or meow, and love to be petted.

While looking at the dead turkey in the middle of the dining room table, be mindful of the hardships this animal experienced. This turkey was loaded onto a truck with up to 2,000 other birds, where it was handled roughly and packed in a crate with several others.

When it reached the slaughterhouse, it was hung upside-down before being dragged through a “stunning tank.” This tank immobilized the turkey through electrocution, but was not fatal. Next came the terminal outcome the turkey was forced to face.

These unique birds have the chance to live a full life of up to 10 years, but instead are butchered at around 5 months old. At this point, they are still dependent on their mothers for survival, but their moms couldn’t have saved them from this shameful fate.

Advocacy for Animals mentions that a common misunderstanding is that animals raised for meat on “organic” farms are treated civilly, but the animals are treated no different. The only difference is organic meats do not contain antibiotics, hormones or an arsenic-based additive.
Although organic products are somewhat healthier, the wisest and kindest choice would be to cut out meat entirely. There are so many other options on Thanksgiving. Tofurkey, a tasty soy-based alternative, is one of the many.

In this country, many don’t value the lives of turkeys. After all, their lives are short, painful and terrifying. But for me, I will just be happy to save the life of a feathered friend and enjoy a nice slab of Tofurkey.