I asked this before but perhaps in the wrong category: Poor turkeys! Does anyone else care?

Question

I do have a lot of sympathy for those birds at this time of year, knowing what conditions they're bred and slaughtered in (I get info from PETA).

Have you seen that advertisement for Nigella's TV program (UK), featuring a white turkey walking up to her house singing 'I want to be loved by you' and ending up on a dish? I think it's disgusting.

Part of our Christmas decorations is a soft toy turkey on which we put a bib at Christmas, just to make a point!

Obviously, people should be free to eat what they want and I don't expect everyone to follow my lead, but our human traditions cause so much suffering among the animal kingdom, it just isn't right. Traditions are being exploited to the limit by money-makers and that always entails someone or something suffering somewhere...
Sorry, I do go on a bit at money-driven people but I know deep down I should feel sorry for them, not knowing the meaning of life...

One person posted a wonderful answer; I tried to choose it as 'best answer', but not sure it worked (a percentage came up instead of the usual 'resolved' page).

Of course, that applies to cows, pigs, chickens, etc.

A Happy Christmas to Dick, too! Hope you're an organic butcher...

Answer 1

I find it admirable that you care about the rest of the creatures in this world. Yes it is commercialization that is causing turkeys to be raised in horrid conditions, crammed together in cages and fed just to make them fatten up for the slaughter. But it is the same for many creatures not just turkeys. The only way to end that is for everyone to become vegetarians. The best we can do in the meantime is press for better living conditions for the poor creatures before they are butchered. So long as people want meat there will be a market for it.

Answer 2

I totally care...about turkeys and about all animals. If anyone has ever watched the butchering procedure and looked into the eyes of each animal, I am quite sure all but the most primitive of humans would not only become vegetarian, but try their best to prevent future slaughtering. That may have been an acceptable way of life for people not versed in our modern world. But since we are in the 21st century and given the vast knowledge of our society, modern man should indeed come into this era and become non meat eaters. There are so many other healthier and humane choices in foods, there is no longer a reason for our barbaric customs.

Answer 3

PETA has a tendency to highlight organizations that might not currently up to code, or that are just barely squeaking by. They want to put the message out there that anything having to do with an animal on your dinner plate is a wicked sin that anyone who partakes of it deserves to die. Personally, I think they're nuts. Sure, conditions could be better for the animals, but PETA is also quite biased. They show the worst of the worst. Sure a slaughterhouse isn't exactly America's playground, but the vast majority of us eat meat and don't plan on stopping.

Answer 4

First, PeTA probably isn't the most unbiased source of information, nor will they give you a review of the conditions in general---they sensationalize the worst. Second, humans eat meat. It's what we're built to do, and frankly eating meat (albeit in moderation) is generally healther than not. It's the animal kingdom for you. If you want to be a vegetarian or vegan, that's great, but it doesn't mean we're doing something wrong.

Answer 5

As a Butcher i eat a steak for christmas dinner(cant see the turkeys any more)
TRADITION SUCKS !!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From Germany

Answer 6

Im totally with you on this. I have tried a million times to be a vegan but the doc was saying it made me sick and stuff. KNowing animals are treated this way makes my heart sink. I have always been really strong about this kind of thing. It is true ..that the world puts alot of suffering to animals. It makes me become violent (with my small frame that might be a bad idea) when i hear about stories about hurting animals. So im definatly here with ya sister

Answer 7

Due to a nut allergy and a hatred of pulses, I can't go entirely vegetarian, but I do stick entirely to free range and/or organic meat and eggs. I shudder when I think of the Bernard Matthews employee who was recently convicted of cruelty to the turkeys in his care. I also use soya or rice alternatives to milk products as mass dairy farming has its inhumane side.

Answer 8

Have you ever raised turkeys? No. I have. I raise about 50 a year and sell them for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mine are free range and organically fed like all the rest of our livestock. Turkeys are stupid and agressive birds. I don't feel sorry for them getting butchered at all.

Peta is nothing more than propaganda. If that is where you get your info you should look for something less biased.

Answer 9

Yes...but Y!A makes them. It's like they don't read the category before posting a question. Thank God for Y!A Lo-Jack. LOL :)

Answer 10

My question for you is... Do you feel the same way about cows? Because thats about the same thing. We raise them to eat them. And it tastes good. Its not like they are an endagered species or anything.