Perspective: Turkeys deserve protection from cruelty

Every time I see a semi-truck loaded with live turkeys blasting down the highway in the middle of a freezing night here in Dubois County, Indiana without a covering to protect the birds from the agony of the biting 60 mph wind chill on their way to the slaughterhouse many things are confirmed to me.

One being that horrific animal cruelty is alive and well right here in the so-called heartland.

The people who make profits from the turkey slaughter industry could buy and use insulated trailer covers that would shield the turkeys from the freezing torture. The lawmakers that get elected in the State of Indiana could make laws that force the turkey slaughter industry to use protective trailer covers that would help shield these birds from this torment.

If anyone thinks that it’s silly nonsense to care about these animals suffering in the freezing cold, do a little test. Some time when it is near zero degrees and the ground is frozen, stand on the back of a pickup truck and have someone drive you from one end of your county to the other at 55 miles an hour and see if it matters to you then. See how you hold up.

Also, we had the bird virus in Dubois County a year ago that infected some turkeys. Many talk about how wild birds spread the virus to turkeys. But what about the fact that a semi-load of turkeys driving down the highway might be spreading viruses to wild birds and other peoples backyard chickens?

Not to mention the cloud of dust, viruses and bacteria that blows into our yards, houses and cars.

Most people do not know that the vast majority of turkeys grown in the USA are not eaten in the USA but are instead shipped to Mexico and China. So we here in America, we are left with the filth, animal abuse, water pollution, air pollution and low paying jobs so that the dead turkeys can be shipped all over the world so a few can profit.

It’s very hard to get humans to do the right thing, especially when they profit from not doing the right thing.

Shane Zoglman
Jasper