Don't choke!!! Of course it's not what you think and there's a story behind that title... but first, I want you to meet Shelley, our new adopted bunny from
Farm Sanctuary:
Isn't she a cutie??! We adopted her just over a week ago, after Urban Vegan posted about adopting a chicken. I had heard about Farm Sanctuary, but never looked into an adoption until I read Urban Vegan's post. I thought that our daughters would love to know that they are helping an animal (in addition to not eating them)!
When we got the picture and this adoption certificate, our older daughter was thrilled. I explained to her that this bunny was rescued from someone that wasn't being good to her, and that now she is being loved and well cared for. At first she wondered why Shelley wasn't coming to live with us, and we have explained that if we ever visit California, we will go see Shelley!
Now, here's the Thanksgiving story. Initially I was going to adopt a turkey or chicken since it is very close to our Canadian Thanksgiving. I was talking to my mom that same day, and said "so, we are going to adopt a turkey for Thanksgiving". "Uh, what?", she replied. "Yeah, when everyone else is eating turkeys for Thanksgiving we are going to adopt one through a shelter for rescued animals", I explain. She said "oh, we aren't having turkey this year for Thanksgiving, hunny, we are having fish". I exclaim "Mom! Fish ARE animals - like turkeys they live, breathe, and have blood... you are still having an animal for Thanksgiving". She says, "I know hunny... oh my, you're funny, and I still love you".
My mom is very proud of my cookbooks and my work, but she will probably never change. When we said our goodbyes leaving St. John's, our older daughter shouted from the car "and Nanny, just get all those eggs and milk out of your fridge, Nanny... it's just not good for you, just get it all out"!
Moral of this story: Don't expect to 'change' the people you love. You can give information, give encouragement and even give food! After that it's their decision. My mom eats more healthy foods now than she used to, but she still eats dairy, eggs, chicken and fish. I love her, yet I cannot change how she eats.
Finally, to make this short story long... when we looked at the adoption information at Farm Sanctuary, we realized we could budget the adoption of a small animal like a turkey, goose, duck or rabbit and so we gave our daughter the choice. She really fell in love with adopting a rabbit. Even though we thought it would be most appropriate to adopt a turkey for Thanksgiving, we have ourselves a rabbit for Thanksgiving!
Thanks Urban Vegan for your post and inspiration to adopt. :)
Now, here's the Thanksgiving story. Initially I was going to adopt a turkey or chicken since it is very close to our Canadian Thanksgiving. I was talking to my mom that same day, and said "so, we are going to adopt a turkey for Thanksgiving". "Uh, what?", she replied. "Yeah, when everyone else is eating turkeys for Thanksgiving we are going to adopt one through a shelter for rescued animals", I explain. She said "oh, we aren't having turkey this year for Thanksgiving, hunny, we are having fish". I exclaim "Mom! Fish ARE animals - like turkeys they live, breathe, and have blood... you are still having an animal for Thanksgiving". She says, "I know hunny... oh my, you're funny, and I still love you".
My mom is very proud of my cookbooks and my work, but she will probably never change. When we said our goodbyes leaving St. John's, our older daughter shouted from the car "and Nanny, just get all those eggs and milk out of your fridge, Nanny... it's just not good for you, just get it all out"!
Moral of this story: Don't expect to 'change' the people you love. You can give information, give encouragement and even give food! After that it's their decision. My mom eats more healthy foods now than she used to, but she still eats dairy, eggs, chicken and fish. I love her, yet I cannot change how she eats.
Finally, to make this short story long... when we looked at the adoption information at Farm Sanctuary, we realized we could budget the adoption of a small animal like a turkey, goose, duck or rabbit and so we gave our daughter the choice. She really fell in love with adopting a rabbit. Even though we thought it would be most appropriate to adopt a turkey for Thanksgiving, we have ourselves a rabbit for Thanksgiving!
Thanks Urban Vegan for your post and inspiration to adopt. :)