Meet Tom, Your New Pet

This is generally not the best of days for turkeys, though some have it better than others. The New York Times takes a look at several families who have spared turkeys the knife—by adopting them. "I instantly, totally fell in love, and now I just want to stay home with them," says one adoptive mother of two birds.

Turkeys aren't a great substitute for more typical pets: between molting and droppings, they can't really be considered domesticated. Some can be downright mean. Yet for some animal lovers, a turkey in the garden—or even the house—seems more natural than one on the table. One downside: adopting a turkey can make Thanksgiving traumatic. "It’s literally painful to have to go to a Thanksgiving dinner," said one owner. (Read more Thanksgiving stories.)