oe? Through my volunteer, work have met many animals and heard. fis background stories about them. Some of these stories and animals have stuck out to me more than others; one of which is Willis. Willis is a large, white, domestic turkey, who now resides at The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. I believe that turkey means more than meat. on Wills started out hs lif in)a turkey farm. He was likely packed in lke sardines with other turkeys. All he was to anyone then was a future meal. He grew up at the farm and finally he ‘was ready to be slaughtered and packaged for the grocery store. He and the other turkeys were loaded on to the truck to be driven to slaughter house. This is when Willis made his escape, though probably not initially. Willis fell from the truck and ended up on the side of the road. A driver, who saw Willis, called The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. Willis hid under a Crepe Myrtle tree, which made him hard to find. It took two searches for the rescue team to find him. By the time he was found; Wills had been living on the side ofthe road for three days When he arrived at the rescue, Willis was dehydrated, sickly, and over grown, He had to stay in the hospital portion of the rescue for a couple of days. Then he was moved to an outside area called the'gimpy yard. The gimpy yard is for birds who are ether getting picked on by the other birds or are physically impaired’8)someway. Willis made a fast recovery in the hospital and did well in the gimpy yard, where he currently resides, ‘Many people hold the belief that turkeys are not the least bit intelligent. There is an old ‘wives tale that says the turkeys are so dumb that when it rains they look up at the sky and accidently drown themselves. This is purely nonsense, Turkeys can learn their names, have different personalities, and have favorite foods. A lot people also do not realize how sociable a turkey can be with his human caretakers. Willis, though abused, has not held a grudge. Willis enjoys being petted and following around the volunteers. He receives petting, daily produce, and care on a regular basis. Willis shows that turkey means more than food. He gives me something to look forward tod and he brightens my day. People ask me all the time why I chose to be vegetarian. Usually saying “ethical reasons” is not enough because people don’t understand. Why should I care about what happens to a turkey I don’t even know; it’s just an animal anyway? For me, it is more personal than that,How could I face Willis every week, pet him, feed him, and enjoy his company, if I were supporting the industry that dropped him on the side of the road on the way to be slaughtered?” How could I feel right eating a turkey sandwich that could have easily been Willis between the bread? He wouldn't know, but I would and that is what would bother me, To me, the only difference between the turkey on the table and the turkey in the pimpy yard is one fell out of the truck and the other didn’t, I admit that watching my friends and family eat all the foods I used to enjoy, but no longer eat, makes me miss eating meat. I have even had friends offer to pay me to take a bite of chicken. IfI gave into that then my belief would mean nothing. | first started thinking about my belief in my seventh grade English class. We had to write a research paper; I researched factory farms. I had never really thought much about turkeys before then. I learned about the different farming methods and I started to question whether what the meat industry is doing is acceptable. This made me think about what animals felt and to what capacity they can feel emotionally. Even after my paper was tumed in, I continued to research the topic. This made my opinions change and this is when my belief took hold. Not long after that is when [became a vegetarian, and not long after that is when I started working with animals, including one juny favorites, turkeys. Every time I work with the animals J ove my beliefs strengthened, Willis has shaped my beliefs. He is a survivor, who not only has a story to tell, but a lesson to teach. I don’t eat meat for him and others like him. His story will always stick out to me as special.a word ane Through my volunteer work I have met many animals and heard just as und ‘etigs about them. Some of these stories and animals have stuck out to me more than others; one of which is Willis. Willis is a large, white, domestie turkey, who now rsides at The Carole od Waterfowl Rescue. I believe that turkey means more than meat.“ L Putpege = To conrince Meastel abe al thehs Willis started out his life in a turkey farm, He was likely packed in like sardines with other turkeys. All he was to anyone then was a future meal. He grew up at the farm and finally be was ready to be slaughtered and packaged for the grocery stor. He and the other turkeys were loaded on to the truck to be driven to slaughter house. This is when Willis made his escape, _ though probably not initially. Willis fell from the truck and ended up on the side of the road. A diver, who saw Willis, called The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. Willis hid under a Crepe Myrtle tree, which made him hard to find. It took two searches for the rescuc team to find him. By the time he was found Willis had been living on the side of the road for three days. ‘When he arrived at the rescue, Willis was dehydrated, sickly, and over grown. He had to stay in the hospital portion of the rescue for a couple of days. Then he was moved to an outside area called the gimpy yard The gimpy yard is forbids who are ether eating picked on by the _other birds or are physically impaired is someway. Willis made a fast recovery in the hospital and did well in the gimpy yard, where he currently resides. Many people hold the belief that turkeys are not the leat bit intelligent, There is an old ‘wives tale that says{the turkeys are so dumb that when it rains they look up at the sky and accidently drown themselves}'This is purely nonsense. Turkeys can lear their names, have different personalities, and have favorite foods. A lot people, alsq do not realize how sociable a turkey can be with his human caretakers. Wills, though abused, has not held a grudge. Willis enjoys being petted and following around the volunteers. He receives petting, daily produce, and care on a regular basis. Willis shows that turkey means more than food. He gives me something to look forward too and he brightens my day. ——> Cateh “% Wheto Spe waaee 5 suo er 4 People ask me all the time, why I chose to be vegetarian. Usually saying “ethical reasons” is not enough, because people don’t understand. Why should I care about what happens to a turkey I don’t even know; it’s just an animal anyway? For me, it is more personal than that.How could I face Willis every week, pet him, feed him, and enjoy his company, if I were supporting the industry that dropped him on the side of the road on the way to be slaughtered”? How could I feel right eating a turkey sandwich that could have easily been Willis between the bread? He wouldn’t know, but T would and that is what would bother me. To me, the only difference between the turkey on the table and the turkey in the gimpy yard is one fell out of the ‘truck and the other didn’t, I admit that watching my friends and family eat all the foods I used to enjoy, but no longer eat, makes me miss eating meat, I have even had friends offer to pay me to take a bite of chicken. If I gave into that then my belief would mean nothing. I first started thinking about my belief in my seventh grade English class. We had to write a research paper; I researched factory farms. I had never really thought much about turkeys before then. I leaned about the different farming methods and I started to question whether what the meat industry is doing is acceptable. This made me think about what animals felt and to what capacity they can fecl emotionally. Even after my paper was tured in, I continued to research the topic. This made my opinions change and this is when my belief took hold. Not long after that is when I became a vegetarian, and not long after that is when I started working with animals, including one my favorites, turkeys. Every time I work with the animals I love my belief is strengthened; Witis has shaped my beliefs. He is a survivor, who not only has a story to tell, but a lesson to teach, I don’t eat meat for him and others like him. His story will always stick out to me as special. Compiment: Vilke Wow adaient You. ave | Cees Th Nour otiet-