By Delci
Last month we asked you to sign our petition requesting that this year’s “pardoned” turkeys be sent to Farm Sanctuary instead of Disneyland, and you answered the call. Within the first four hours after the petition launched, we got nearly 4,000 signatures, and in just two weeks, more than 10,000 of you signed!
As promised, we presented these signatures to the White House, along with our own formal request that the turkeys be given real refuge at Farm Sanctuary. We explained that at least half of the “pardoned” turkeys sent to a Disney facility had died within one year of their arrival – most likely due to a lack of adequate care – while rescued turkeys at Farm Sanctuary typically live four to five years. We also mentioned that our oldest turkey, Gobell, is a whopping 10 ½ years old.
The turkeys at Farm Sanctuary’s two shelters live much longer, happier lives than those sent to Disney because of the individualized care and attention we provide for them and the expertise we have developed through rescuing more than 1,000 of these birds in the past 23 years. For example, our turkeys feast on a special high-fiber feed that is specially designed to satisfy all of their nutritional requirements without promoting excessive weight gain. Plus, all of our turkeys have access to top-of-the-line veterinary care, warm barns, safe pastures to explore, fresh air and sunshine, companions to spend their days with, and lots of loving attention from devoted caregivers – all of which further enriches their lives.
We were saddened to learn that Courage and Carolina, this year’s “pardoned” turkeys, were sent to Disneyland despite the compelling request we made with the support of so many of you. Nevertheless, we maintain hope for these turkeys. Because we want the very best for them, we’ve reached out to Disneyland offering to share our expertise and providing concrete advice about how it can improve the quality and length of the turkeys’ lives. In addition, we let Disneyland know that our doors remain open should they come to agree that Courage and Carolina would fare much better at Farm Sanctuary.
It remains to be seen whether our advice will be heeded, but there is no reason that Disneyland, with its considerable resources, could not achieve the level of care that Farm Sanctuary provides. With Courage and Carolina’s well-being at stake, we sincerely hope that Disneyland steps up to the plate and demonstrates true care for these birds. The more people the company hears from, the more likely it will be to do so. Please contact Disney and urge it to do the right thing.
Animals should not be in amusement parks as a place that they live on a daily basis. they need to be where they can live a normal life for thier species.I am asking Disneyland to send the pardoned turkeys to a sanctuary.
Posted by: Julieannz | January 21, 2010 at 11:29 PM