Blog
Dear Diary
Photo: Hope Hilman on left with Ronnie and Kate Tsyrklevich on right with Scarlett at Heartwood Haven.
Day One
Dear Diary,
Today I opened my eyes for the first time! WOW! I am so excited to experience so many new things! Look out world, HERE I AM!!!
Day Five
Dearest Diary,
Today I made new friends! They are all my age and it was so cool to be part of a family. I haven’t seen any adults around, but I have already grown so much. I bet it’s because there’s an all you can eat buffet. I feel like I am always hungry though. Hmm…now that I mention it, I think I am going to go have a snack!
Day Twenty Seven
Hey Diary!
Sorry it’s been a while. It’s getting a little cramped in here to write. You would not believe how much I have grown. I overheard some people talking and they said I am looking good. I don’t have a mirror, but it makes me happy to know I am pretty. I try to stay clean, but it’s hard with all my friends in here with me. The sun hasn’t gone down in a while. It’s always so bright, but good news! That means it’s always breakfast time LOL - I wish they would change up the menu some though. The food’s a little bland. Well, I am off to book club.
TTYL
XO, Jilly (I gave myself a name since no one else did!)
Day Fifty
Hello my Dear Diary!
I just overheard so GREAT news! I get to go to a new house soon! Somewhere called S-Town. I hope I make even more friends there! I can’t wait!!!
XOXO,
Jilly-Bean
P.S. I quit book club. They said my nails were “stubby” so I bit one of the girls. Luckily, no one else saw. I’ve seen what happened to some of my friends that got caught and it is NOT pretty.
Day Eighty Seven
Hi Diary,
It’s getting a little hard for me to write. I think I may have eaten too much…it hurts my knees to walk… Lucky for me everything is close within reach at all times. Even though I know I shouldn't, I'm just so hungry all the time. I keep over-hearing about S-Town more and more. I can’t wait!!!
Yours truly,
Silly Jilly
Day Ninety Five
DIARY!!
It’s happening!!! Most of my friends have already left and I was told in three days I am moving to S-Town!!!! I CAN’T WAIT!!!! I’ll try and write more the day I leave!!! I’m just so excited!!!
<3,
Jill Jill, Queen of the Hill
Day Ninety Eight
Hey Diary! I only have a minute to write. I was told I am now 14 weeks old and it’s time! I am headed to S-Town!!! As soon as I get there I promise to write more!
I love you Diary!!!
Jill
Day One Hundred
Umm Hey Diary… So…I have a lot to update you on. These last few days have been eventful to say the least. Remember how I told you I was moving to S-Town? Well, get this - it’s not a real place! Well, I mean.. it is, but it sure isn’t where I want to end up. I was just about to get in a truck when instead I was put in the back of a van. The people talk to me! Like, directly to me!!!! And they told me I was headed to a farm sanctuary where I would be safe from slaughter. They said I would be put on a diet (yuck) and get to live out the rest of my long life with friends outside and not in a cage! I will miss my friends…
14 weeks is how long most turkeys get to live before they are sent to slaughter. Turkeys have a natural lifespan of up to 10 years. In the U.S., it is estimated that over 46 million turkeys are slaughtered just for Thanksgiving. That’s more than the entire human population of California, all killed just for one meal on one day. Each one of these animals have their own unique personality but are never given much of a chance to show it. Instead, they are kept in small cramped cages, because any expended energy is weight they may lose. With the high-stress conditions they are kept in, the turkeys can develop habits such as pecking at themselves or their cage mates, which usually results in the farmer mutilating them by cutting off the tips of their beaks and toes. If the turkey is “organic” it means that if there is any illness or disease in the flock, they will not be treated. This includes parasites. Due to the way humans have altered turkeys to grow larger faster, they are no longer able to naturally reproduce, and the hens must be artificially inseminated to produce fertilized eggs.
Check out some great suggestions from World of Vegan on some dishes you can prepare for a cruelty-free Thanksgiving. Let’s show our friends and family what we are truly thankful for, compassion and kindness for all! https://www.worldofvegan.com/thanksgiving/
Want to learn more about the lives of turkeys?