Make This Thanksgiving One for the Birds

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and that means great times, good company, and of course, mouthwatering food. Thanksgiving also means that far too many families will feast on the flesh of turkeys.

Many people don’t realize that turkeys are social, playful birds who enjoy the company of others and relish having their feathers stroked. According to Oregon State University poultry scientist Tom Savage, turkeys are “smart animals with personality and character, and keen awareness of their surroundings.”

Turkeys’ keen awareness only makes the journey to the dinner table all the more terrifying for these intelligent and beautiful animals.

Just last year, PETA released undercover video from the world’s leading poultry-breeding facility. In the video, workers stomp on turkeys’ heads, punch them, and bang their heads against metal scaffolding. Approximately 300 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year, with 45 million dying just to be the centerpiece of Thanksgiving meals.

With the holiday just around the corner, please take some time to teach others about these amazing animals and the many reasons we should keep turkeys off of our plates. Download PETA’s free ThanksVegan guide now and share it with friends, family, and anyone around you.

Celebrate a vegan Thanksgiving with these delicious recipes that are sure to please even the most picky palates. Your friends and family won’t miss the cholesterol or the cruelty of animal-based foods, and after tasting these scrumptious dishes, they will be willing to give vegan meals a try for many more Thanksgivings to come!