Each holiday season, many Americans come together to express gratitude for the simple joys in life. But the gatherings come at a heartbreaking cost. Over 200 million turkeys are brutally slaughtered in the US each year, with the majority killed over the holidays—after suffering lives devoid of the simple joys they deserve.

In the wild, a young turkey spends days foraging among the grasses, delighting in exploring the landscape with his flock. He stretches his wings and enjoys the sunlight and fresh air. Intelligent and curious, he recognizes the voices of other turkeys and the faces of individual humans.

But the vast majority of turkeys today never experience these things. Raised in crowded, windowless warehouses, they’re deprived of exploring and socializing. Instead, they spend every day lying on wet, soiled litter that burns their skin. As a result, nearly all suffer from a painful condition known as foot pad dermatitis.

Many turkeys endure routine mutilations as soon as they’re born. Their sensitive beaks are painfully sliced with a hot blade. The tips of their toes are amputated in a process called “toe trimming,” which causes acute pain after the procedure—and lasting behavior changes for the rest of their lives.

Like chickens raised for meat, turkeys have been selectively bred to grow so large and so quickly that they can barely move. (For comparison: If human babies grew at the same rate as modern turkeys, they would weigh over 1,500 pounds at just 18 weeks old.)

These extreme growth rates push turkeys’ bodies to the breaking point—causing skeletal deformities, difficulty walking, and chronic pain. Some have trouble reaching their food and water.

It’s time to move away from cruelty—and toward new traditions grounded in compassion. Turkeys deserve kindness. By raising awareness of the suffering they endure, we can help create a future where all turkeys are treated with dignity.

Will you add your name on behalf of turkeys?