I know I risk enraging three-quarters of the people on Bainbridge Island when I admit I am severely disturbed by this cutesy little story (Bainbridge birds go farm-to-table,” Nov. 19). Tom arrived on the island as a small fluff ball five months ago, we are told by the writer Jessica Hoch.

The second I read this I knew what was going to happen to Tom, and almost rushed down to Rolling Bay Farm to see if I could purchase Tom, but “all the birds are grown and spoken for.”

We are then told that, “Heritage birds are a pure breed and can fly, forage for food and are beautiful in color.”

The family who purchased the bird wanted their bird to have a better life, and they have formed a much deeper connection to this turkey which will nevertheless be killed so that they can have Thanksgiving dinner.

The article then goes on about the different choices these people have made for Thanksgiving and says that the turkey was the easy part.

Then we are told that the wife,”holds up a photo of the bird and boasts of his size and beauty in the same way a mother might show off a school photo.” The wife then goes on to say, ”I have a deep love and respect for animals, and that’s why it’s wonderful. I know where he was raised and harvested. I know the farmer and I know the farm.”

My question is what is this mother teaching her children (if she has any) and fellow islanders? Is she, in her arrogance, saying, “We are so important that we can have whatever we want even if it is healthy and beautiful.”

And more.

“We do not have to have any compassion or generosity toward another creature? Everything was put on the earth for our benefit? So long as we make it sound good and ‘green’ we can dominate all creatures?”

I have no time for people who say, “I have a deep love and respect for animals,” before they slaughter them.

How do their children who are also deeply loved and respected sleep peacefully in their beds at night?

If you are going to kill a turkey please don’t surround your act with all of these fabrications and lies making it sound like some kind of religious devotion.

I thought of Tom on Thanksgiving Day as I tucked into my not so pretty and not so photogenic Tofurky. Sorry Tom that I could not do more for you.

Ann Woodburn.

Bainbridge Island