TOPSY HAD A NARROW ESCAPE
We suspect Topsy may have narrowly escaped an untimely death when she fled into suburban Auckland streets. We needed a home for her 
where her caregiver would allow her to live out her natural lifespan of 10–12 years in an environment where she would be lovingly cared for. Sadly, some people view turkeys as food, so strict adoption criteria and regular visits by an Animal Re-homing representative would apply.
Topsy now lives on a large rural property with dozens of other loved and rescued animals of many species - under the care of a personal friend of mine. Topsy wanders among the other lucky creatures and is having a thoroughly lovely time. (See photos at the bottom). Some of my friend’s comments follow…
“Poor thing was extremely light when she arrived here last Friday but she is already more noticeably heavier now. I initially put her on a ponga perch in a pen under cover where she stayed until I went to bed. In the morning I got such a surprise to see her happily on my deck with the peafowl. I hadn’t noticed the hole in the pen.
Topsy is eating well and enjoying the grass too. She has instantly settled in and is certainly very unperturbed. You'll have to try to pop in and see her whenever you can manage it. She is very settled with everyone else and is never far away. Her choice of roost has become the rail fence near the stables. She's looking very well.”
We urge you not to eat these friendly, inquisitive birds – not even at Christmas time when millions of them are slaughtered while they are still infants. Please let peace, love and joy extend to non-human animals too...
Rescuing Topsy brought to mind this poem by Benjamin Zephaniah.
Talking Turkeys (from 'Talking Turkeys')
Be nice to yu turkeys dis Christmas
Cos' turkeys just wanna hav fun
Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum.
Be nice to yu turkeys dis Christmas,
Don't eat it, keep it alive,
It could be yu mate, an not on your plate
Say, “Yo! Turkey I'm on your side."
I got lots of friends who are turkeys
An all of dem fear Christmas time,
Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it
An humans are out of dere mind,
Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys
Dey all hav a right to a life,
Not to be caged up an genetically made up
By any farmer an his wife.
