A Sentience Article from All-Creatures.org


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Farewell Pete and Repeat

From VINE Vegan Is the Next Evolution
Facebook posting September 4, 2022

Like the wild turkey hens, human neighbors often brought their young'uns to converse with the chatty turkey. Teens driving by would sometimes stop, roll down their windows, and call out to Pete to hear him reply.

Turkey Pete

This weekend, we said farewell to a dear friend.

Pete and his Turkey brother Repeat came to the sanctuary more than ten years ago, immediately charming everyone with their sociable and loquacious personalities. Deeply bonded to each other, they readily made friends with the roosters and hens with whom they shared a coop and yard. They also regularly chatted with wild turkeys in the neighborhood.

Like many siblings, Pete and Repeat sometimes argued heatedly. About once a year, one or the other would go off and stay in another coop for a couple of weeks, to cool off. But they always made up and wanted to be back together again.

When Repeat died a few years ago, Pete’s mood slumped as he mourned. Wild turkey hens came to visit more frequently, perhaps sensing his need. He bounced back by communing with them and deepening his relationships with his chicken friends.

Pete made friends with other people in the neighborhood too. If you called out to him, he always answered. Like the wild turkey hens, human neighbors often brought their young'uns to converse with the chatty turkey. Teens driving by would sometimes stop, roll down their windows, and call out to Pete to hear him reply. Pete had a friend of his own generation as well: An older gentleman who took early morning walks up and down our road struck up a friendship with Pete, pausing to chat with him each day.

We never knew his exact birthday, but Pete was quite old for a turkey. He died in his sleep of heart failure Thursday night. While his death was not tragic, we grieve.

Sometimes, when someone you will miss very much dies, it can be helpful to choose something about them to carry into the rest of your own life. Pete’s responsive readiness to talk— and listen! — to anyone, regardless of species, might be a good thing to do to remember him. We invite you to join us in doing so.

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