'Pardon Me'...Stray Turkey Up for Adoption at Peninsula Humane Society

[Editor's note: The following was submitted by the Peninsula Humane Society-SPCA.]

Since no owners have come forward claiming a stray domestic turkey left in the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s (PHS/SPCA) after hours kennels on November 18, PHS/SPCA will seek to place the big bird – as a pet.

“It’s not a good week for stray turkeys,” joked PHS/SPCA spokesperson Scott Delucchi. “Fortunately, this one has been in good hands.  No one here has been eyeing him for anything but a pet.”

Beginning today, the turkey can be adopted, and will be treated much like a chicken adoption, which PHS/SPCA does a few dozen times each year.  The shelter’s last domestic turkey adoption was in 2007. In 2006, PHS/SPCA received dozens of abandoned turkey chicks and placed all healthy ones in a Northern California farm animal sanctuary.

Staff quickly determined this was a domestic, and not a wild turkey; wild turkeys can be seen in rural areas of San Mateo County. The telltale signs were the bird’s size (much larger than a wild turkey), white coloring on the tips of the tail feathers and social behavior around people. “If he’s been faking us out, mission accomplished,” continued Delucchi, “though turkeys are not known for intelligence.”

PHS/SPCA named the turkey “Lincoln,” for former President Abraham Lincoln who declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.“Lincoln” is a male adult in good health, though his age has not been determined.

Turkeys can live 6-10 years. The ideal home will be similar to a home for chickens: one with a dirt floor, fencing to keep predators out and with some kind of small structure for protection from the elements.

While in PHS/SPCA’s care, “Lincoln” took a special liking to a stray goat while the two shared a small  barnyard area at the 12 Airport Boulevard property.  The goat was adopted this past Sunday.

Domestic turkeys can be fed a commercial turkey food, similar to what people feed chickens.

Interested adopters should visit PHS/SPCA’s facility at 12 Airport Blvd. between 11 am and 6 pm or call 650/685-8510 to make sure he’s still available before making a trip. The shelter is closed this Thursday for Thanksgiving.  The adoption fee is $25.