Turkey needs eye surgery; Rehoboth woman seeks funds
3:21 PM Mon, Nov 23, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Truck fire that killed Narragansett man 'incendiary' |
Main
| Update: Dad accused of killing daughter held without bail »
By Kate Bramson REHOBOTH, Mass. -- Lyndsey Medeiros knows she's asking a lot with her craigslist posting seeking money to help pay for cataract surgery for Jerry the Turkey -- particularly this week, as most people are preparing to eat a pretty large turkey meal on Thursday.  Rehoboth animal lover Lyndsey Medeiros is raising money for Jerry the turkey, whose cataracts prevent him from flying and eating independently. Photo courtesy of Lyndsey Medeiros But she's persevering because she's an animal lover. "There's a story you see every once in a while that pulls at your heartstrings," she explains. "I just wanted to see what could be done to help him -- if nothing more, to give him a good home so he can live out his days in a comfortable environment, not having to worry about being eaten." Medeiros and her husband, Jason, run a hobby farm out of their Rehoboth home, with 10 Nigerian dwarf goats whose milk makes cheese for their family. And as a veterinary technician for eight years, Lyndsey spends a lot of time around animals. She's had a menagerie of animals with problems, including a three-legged cat. Jason enjoys scanning craigslist's farm and garden section, and it was there he came across a post from a woman in Foster with health problems who could no longer care for an ailing turkey. A week ago, the Medeiroses drove to Foster and came home with two turkeys -- 3-year-old Jerry and Penelope, the companion who has been with him since they were small. A Narragansett turkey, Jerry is a cross between a wild and domestic turkey and could live to be 15, Lyndsey said. The docile animal has quickly become one of the family's pets, even allowing the couple's 17-month-old son, Aidan, to pet him and hug him. He can't fly up to roost in high places as Penelope does because he can't see -- and he needs help eating, Lyndsey says. Instantly, Lyndsey began seeking care for Jerry. Her workplace didn't have an avian specialist, so she turned to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich, where the veterinary ophthalmologist examined Jerry and said his cataracts look operable. The bird will now see the practice's exotic animals specialist, who will help determine if he can undergo surgery, according to Linda Adams, the client liaison at Ocean State. It could cost between $2,000 and $2,600, Lyndsey said. So far, in less than a week, she has gotten about $250. Since Lyndsey posted Jerry's story on craigslist sites around the country, angry naysayers have e-mailed to say she's wrong to have taken up the turkey's cause. "I'm not trying to take food off the tables of people who can't afford it," she replies. "Obviously, feeding your children takes precedence over surgery for a turkey, but there are people out there looking for a place to donate." Lyndsey asks people to respect the fact that she's trying to save an animal. "And if this had been a dog or a cat or a horse," she says, "maybe people would think differently." 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
Anyone who donates to this cause needs to have their head examined. Donate him to a needy family so they can enjoy a hearty and healthy Thanksgiving meal. Just like good ol' Jerry was intended for.
Report Abuse
What a bunch of dope's!
Let's eat him!
Report Abuse
why is this even in the news, it an animal. It should fattened, killed, plucked then cooked and served like any other animal. Who cares if he can't see!
Report Abuse
I just gave the food bank your address. They'll be right over. HHHMMMM good!!!!!
Report Abuse
Thank you, Madeiros's for caring for a creature who needs help. Don't listen to the other ignorants posting here. You are doing the right thing and there are many more of us out here who would do the same. you can COUNT on my donation to helping Jerry get his surgery. Thank you again for treating God's creature's with the compassion and respect they deserve.
Report Abuse
I've raised a few champion fowl in my time. Some times you have to make tough choices. I think maybe a 350 degree oven might be what is in order here.
Report Abuse
You wouldn't adopt a child that you can't afford to care for. Why is an animal any different? EVERYONE needs to learn to stop living beyond their means. $2000 is too much to spend on surgery for a turkey. Teach your kids a lesson about the realities of life and put the money to better use.
Ever hear of natural selection? Jerry wouldn't last long in the wild. Let nature takes its course.
Report Abuse
With that money you can feed a family of 3-4 in India for a whole year...
I can see the cause raising money for a human important but for a turkey? let's look at the state of economy we are in and if makes sense to save this wild bird.
Report Abuse
How is it logical to raise thousands of dollars to save a bird? Don't you have bills to pay? Kids to put through school? A mortgage? What does your dog think of this? Cook the bird and eat it. This is natural selection. You're no better than that Stamford woman thinking it was fine owning a chimp. Some of you animal lovers need to wake up to reality.
Also, why are news organizations scanning Craiglist Ads for story ideas? Where's your integrity now? Putting that much trust in nutbrain con artists posting ads.
Report Abuse
carnivores are often heartless morons. no surprise with those comments. i am sure you are WAY more evolved than a turkey... keep telling yourself that while you enjoy your thanksgiving meal of flesh from a living being who died so you could stuff yourselves and then pass out watching football. oh yea, youre evolved...
Report Abuse
Good for you! You have a heart of gold and you can also count on my donation as well. All God's creatures have worth, including Jerry. What a lucky fellow he is for you to have found him!
Report Abuse
I have 6 pet geese. Chickens, Turkeys,
Geese and Ducks are fun animals with
tons of personality and complex lives.
Carnivores don't try to see it or care
because they just want to be able to
slaughter and eat them without guilt.
Open your mind, see what's really true.
Ask yourself this question, If you put
100 naked men together in a closed
environment with a few food bins so
that they had to compete for food,
defecate where they lived, wouldn't
they seem just a tad crazy,
stupid, and aggressive? that's the
way most people view turkeys.
Separate them and give them what
they need, and it's totally different.
Each one is an individual and has it's own personality.
As a result of seeing for myself, I'm a vegan.
Report Abuse
Lyndsey you are absolutely doing the right thing by pursuing this because #1 this turkey is a pet and #2 being in the vet business your life work is taking care of all animals not just dogs, and kitties. Finally, don't worry about what other people think, you just do what you think is best for Jerry.
Report Abuse
Kudos to you for caring for Jerry and the other animals! So many times farm animals are overlooked and they need love and care just like other animals. I try to help both humans and all types of animals. All (humans and animals) should be able to have a safe and humane Thanksgiving! Although people are entitled to their own opinions, I feel that if many persons who posted comments on this site actually visited a facility that rescued farm animals or other animals that are not considered popular pets and interacted with the animals, then they would very likely have a very different view on this topic. My dog had cataract surgery years ago and it improved her quality of life immensely. I am confident this surgery will help Jerry too. You can count on my donation.
Report Abuse
I think it is a wonderful,kind thing to help this animal that needs help. I have a great deal of respect for you and am going to do my part to help this turkey.
do not p[ay attention to the people who mock you.
I guess i am of the school of thought that one should follow one's heart in matters like this.
God bless you!!!
Report Abuse
This is absolutely ridiculous. There are people in this country that are losing their jobs and these people want to waste $2500 on something that should be the main course for lunch tomorrow. There are millions of people in this country that could use that money to put food on the table or buy Christmas presents for their kids. Give the money to a charity that helps PEOPLE. Give them the turkey too so they can EAT IT.
Report Abuse
I am angered (but not surprised) by the number of people calling for this bird to be killed and eaten. If it were a cat or a dog, people would be lining up to help, but because of their hypocrisy they believe a turkey doesn't deserve the same compassion as a dog or a cat. It's straight-up ignorancy, hypocrisy, and circular reasoning.
Report Abuse
Check out the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. They have a goat with an artificial leg. There are angels out there...
Report Abuse
"Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published."
After reading some of the comments above, it appears that somebody isn't doing their job. It's sad to see so many people who see animals strictly as food. They see not cow, but beef; not a pig, but just pork chops.
We enjoyed a happy meat-free Thanksgiving again,and it's too bad the pilgrims didn't just eat what the natives ate; corn, beans, and squash.
This woman is doing the compassionate thing by helping the helpless. If natural selection really worked, there wouldn't be so many morons commenting about cooking this bird.
Report Abuse
Turkeys ARE food. Thats why God put them on this earth, for people to eat, not to cuddle with or play with. They shouldnt be tortured or abused, their death should be as quick and painless as possible, but THEY ARE FOOD. This makes about as much sense as takng up a collection to save a bag of doritos.
Report Abuse