Leon is one of the fortunate turkeys who escaped the fate of an American Thanksgiving dinner. Just before Thanksgiving, Leon the turkey was found wandering the streets of Ventura County, California. Fortunately, he was rescued by the Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary (based in Stockton) where he began to show off his dog-like qualities.
The sanctuary manager, Christine Morrissey, said that Leon “took to people immediately” when he arrived at the animal sanctuary. Leon enjoys being carried around, petted, kissed, and especially loves belly rubs. Morrissey believes that Leon has the potential to one day become a therapy turkey.
Leon is the right age and size of a turkey that would be slaughtered for Thanksgiving dinner, but luckily for Leon he won’t be slaughtered at the sanctuary. Morrissey said that they’re unsure whether Leon was kept as a backyard pet or if he escaped from a farm where he was being raised for slaughter. But with Leon’s dog-like behaviour it goes to show that turkeys are capable of trusting humans and offering companionship.
It can be easy to forget that the animals we eat can have emotional complexes similar to the animals we keep as pets. The
story of Leon gives us a friendly reminder that animals, such as turkeys, also have a sense of emotional well-being.