There鈥檚 at least one turkey that won鈥檛 be gobbled up this Thanksgiving, and that turkey鈥檚 name is Gertie.
Gertie, like most turkeys, was being raised in a barn stall for Thanksgiving dinner, when one night she had an accident that would change the course of her life forever.
Gertie鈥檚 leg was severed in a farming accident. 鈥� Michelle Singleton
鈥淎t some point one evening Gertie jumped up on a hay rack in the stall and fell, but her leg got stuck,鈥� Michelle Singleton, from聽聽on 麻豆传媒映画Island, says.
鈥淪he hung there all night and was found in the morning by a girl that boards her horse at the same farm Gertie was being raised.鈥�
Gertie鈥檚 leg was severed and she suffered a compound fracture in the accident. Her leg died due to lack of blood flow and had to be amputated.
鈥淭he girl鈥檚 family tried to split and cast her leg but there was too much damage,鈥� Singleton says.
The family brought Gertie to the sanctuary, where she is now recovering 鈥� without the fear of becoming dinner.
鈥淕ertie came to us because she would have likely died due to cramped conditions and difficulty obtaining food and water due to her mobility issues,鈥� Singleton says.
Gertie鈥檚 leg was severed in a farming accident. 鈥� Michelle Singleton
鈥淪he is currently able to hop around on one leg but she soon won't be able to do this because she is a breed of turkey that was bred to grow quickly for meat production, so, she will get big fast. Even with two legs these turkeys eventually have mobility issues due to their large size.鈥�
Because of this issue, Singleton started looking at options to help Gertie walk again.
鈥淕ertie, currently has a friend, Henry, which is a Cornish cross chicken, with the same problem, bred for meat and grows so big they have mobility issues,鈥� Singleton says.
She is currently purchasing a chair for Henry from聽in Australia, which will cost about $100 to $150.
The chairs were 鈥渄esigned to assist the recovery of rescued battery hens who had sustained injuries鈥� according to the website.
But Gertie will need something a bit different.
鈥淭hey have told me that one for Gertie will be very expensive, $400 to $500,鈥� Singleton says.
鈥淕ertie has been seen by a fellow that is a certified orthotist and he is going to try and make a prosthetic for her.
鈥淗er leg has only been healed for about three weeks, so she still needs time for the wound to heal in order to prevent pressure sores.
鈥淔or now we change the bandage weekly to ensure the leg is protected so it can heal properly.鈥�
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This week, part proceeds from a vegan Thanksgiving dinner will go towards buying the prosthetic leg for Gertie.
The event, 鈥�,鈥� is a pop up dinner at 4236 Main St. on Friday, October 5, that aims "to redefine tradition and how we give thanks: by keeping animals in our hearts only, and off our plates.鈥�
Gertie鈥檚 story pulled at the heartstrings of so many vegans, the event has now sold out.
Event organizer Zoe Peled, from聽, says she met Gertie on a recent trip to the sanctuary and knew she had to help.
鈥淚 was there in relation to another animal, a very special chicken, but Gertie really struck me. I鈥檝e always had a particular affinity for turkeys,鈥� Peled says.
鈥淸Gertie] is not only a survivor of the animal agricultural industries but she is a survivor with one leg who will have a prosthetic soon and that is just a whole other level of strength and resilience.
She said Gertie鈥檚 situation was unique and they wanted to help with the costs of her medical needs and the needs of the other animals at the sanctuary.
鈥淚t was a perfect fit to do a Thanksgiving event with a turkey involved but in a very different way to what we have accepted as tradition up until this point,鈥� Peled says.
Some of Vancouver鈥檚 top vegan chefs are working together to offer event guests a four-course-meal, with new takes and creative twists on holiday favourites. 聽The dinner features chefs Alina Bobby from The Juice Truck, Dee Dimla from MeeT, and Karen McAthy from Blue Heron Creamery.
Singleton says she鈥檚 grateful for the overwhelming community support.
鈥淚'm very happy about the vegan Thanksgiving event to help raise money for Gertie,鈥� Singleton says.
鈥淲e have several projects on the go so I am incredibly thankful to have this group help with fundraising for Gertie's new leg.鈥�
And that鈥檚 how Gertie came to be, possibly, the luckiest turkey in B.C.
