Strawberry Hedgehog Core Values: Compassion. This is Birdie, my turkey friend who I loved and cared for about a decade ago at the Raven House Animal Sanctuary. When I would pull up in my car Birdie would recognize me coming and start strutting her stuff. She would puff up and spread her tail, drag her wings and do her very fancy promenade like a proper Tom, though she was a little lady - eff your gender norms, said Birdie 😂 As I brought water out to the goats, chickens, mule, and put water out for the wild deer and host of other SE AZ wild critters, Birdie would follow me around. Pecking (gently though unnervingly to me!) at my converse and my jeans pockets (she loved the shiny grommets) and when I finally paid attention, stopped and gave her the eye contact she wanted she would nestle down, tuck her wings and bring her head in. She loved for me to scratch just under her wings, she loved a nice snuggle and when I would scratch under her chin by her little nubby bits she would close her eyes and purrrrrrr. A turkey purr will melt your heart. They are fun and sweet and clever and sassy beings. This Thanksgiving millions ofindividuals like Birdie will not be as fortunate as she was. They live a cruel life in unthinkably crowded confinement and filth, an estimated 45 million individuals will be killed for consumption — that’s about as many people as the entire population of Arizona and California. It is so easy to make a different choice to opt out of this cruelty. You can have a family filled feast and loving day minus this death. Locally in Phoenix you can head to @greenrestaurantaz for ThanksLiving or pick up food from them or from @24carrots to take all of the work and thought out of it. Love cooking? Me, too! Check out online recipes from

https://www.glueandglitter.com/

https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/

https://detoxinista.com/

http://www.eatdrinkshrink.com/

or pick up any cookbooks by Isa Chandra Moskowitz (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?k=isa+chandra+moskowitz&sprefix=isa+chandra&crid=3UNZUOXFI3PAW) or Sarah Kramer (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=sarah+kramer) for fabulous inspiration. 💖💖💖

>>>> Want to learn more about how you can make a difference for turkeys? Head to https://www.farmsanctuary.org/adopt-a-turkey/