Thanksgiving Revolution: How US Families Are Adopting Turkeys Instead of Eating Them

Thanksgiving will be celebrated this year on November 27, and "Gus" the turkey is experiencing this holiday season quite differently from millions of other turkeys across America.

While wandering through a vast animal sanctuary on the Colorado plains, Gus frequently encounters staff members who stop to pet him, embrace him, or even give him affectionate kisses on his distinctive red face. Since 2023, following his pardon by the governor, Gus has called this sanctuary home.

"Would you like some snuggles today?" asks Lanette Cook, who manages education and engagement at the Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Erie, as she addresses Gus directly.

Gus represents a growing trend of turkeys being "adopted" rather than served with gravy at Thanksgiving dinner tables across the country.

An increasing number of farm animal sanctuaries nationwide have begun promoting this alternative approach to Thanksgiving, where families can "adopt" turkeys and contribute financially to their ongoing care. In exchange, adopters receive photographs, certificates, and sometimes even opportunities for personal visits with these birds.

The initiative aims to save at least some of the tens of millions of turkeys slaughtered during this season, many of which are raised in conditions that animal rights advocates describe as inhumane within factory farms.

At Luvin Arms, Executive Director Kelly Nix explains that a $25 donation provides adopters with a certificate, photo, and either a virtual or in-person visit with their sponsored turkey. Since launching this program in 2022, the sanctuary, located approximately 25 miles north of Denver, has witnessed sponsorships double annually. This year, they're on track to achieve their financial goal of $18,000.

The Luvin Arms website features Gus and several other turkeys, highlighting their individual personality traits (noting that Gus is particularly talkative!) as part of their sponsor-a-turkey initiative. The program encourages people to donate for these birds during Thanksgiving and potentially reconsider their holiday traditions.

These contributions have helped fund expansions to the turkeys' outdoor pasture areas, as well as feeding costs and rescue operations for more turkeys. The donations also support veterinary expenses, which can reach thousands of dollars due to medical complications common in factory-farmed turkeys, which are bred to grow unusually large in short timeframes, according to Nix. In natural environments, wild turkeys typically live three to four years on average, as reported by the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The sanctuary emphasizes that the program extends beyond just helping turkeys or raising funds. It serves an important educational purpose, highlighting factory farming conditions and demonstrating that turkeys are more than just holiday centerpieces.

"Even if it just makes you pause and reconsider what you're about to do," says Nix. "Or if you think, 'wow, this is the life of a sentient being,' that's a conversation starter for us."

Farm Sanctuary, with locations in New York and California, is believed to have pioneered this type of turkey adoption program in 1986. Gene Baur, its president and co-founder, recalls that initially the public was confused about the program and the very concept of rescuing farm animals.

Nearly four decades later, the sanctuary has rescued thousands of turkeys. Public understanding has grown significantly, with donations sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars in certain years, according to Baur.

"We grow up with certain traditions. But just because something is a tradition doesn't mean that it needs to remain as a tradition," Baur explains.

Lizzie Parra's family has been adopting a turkey from the organization since 2021, following an experience at a Pittsburgh sanctuary where a turkey persistently followed them throughout their tour group.

Parra, her husband, and their 11-year-old son follow a vegan lifestyle, so turkey has never been part of their Thanksgiving celebration. However, she notes that the adoption program allows them to help save turkeys while raising awareness.

"This is just an opportunity for us to tell people that they can, at least for one meal, kind of make the same compassionate choice," she shares.

In Chelsea, Michigan, Barn Sanctuary has operated a similar program since 2023. Chase DeBack, who coordinates advocacy, education, and engagement there, explains that their focus is on highlighting the positive aspects of these birds and their distinct personalities.

He enthusiastically describes some of their resident turkeys as if they were close friends: Lewis isn't particularly sociable with humans; Sabrina and Hilda are always curious about what visitors bring into their coop.

"We really wanted to shine a light on the unique personalities that turkeys have and how loving and caring they are for humans and for each other," DeBack explains.