When rescuers first met Shirley, she was a gentle turkey trapped in a heartbreaking situation. She and her two friends, Tiny and Wonky, were confined to a tiny backyard pen, neglected and suffering.
They had no space to move, no comfort, and no kindness — until one compassionate person decided enough was enough.
“Thankfully, a kind person couldn’t stand seeing this neglect and stepped in,” said Riki Higgins, social media coordinator at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
“The person convinced Shirley’s caretaker to let her bring all three girls to safety. After getting the immediate care she needed, Shirley has been doing great ever since!”
Safe at last, Shirley began to thrive — and she’s never stopped showing how grateful she is. Her favorite way to express it? Hugs.
“Shirley likes to snuggle with staff that she likes,” Higgins said.
Recently, Shirley was caught on camera leaning into a sanctuary intern, wrapping her feathers around them in what looked unmistakably like a turkey hug. It was the sweetest thank-you she could give.
When she’s not cuddling her favorite humans, Shirley spends her days chatting away and roaming the grounds with her friends — both turkey and chicken alike.
“Shirley is very talkative and attentive,” Higgins said. “She can be pretty moody, but if she trusts you, she will approach and spend time with you. She’s active and always hanging out with her chicken friends.”
At Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, Shirley is more than just a rescue — she’s a teacher, showing visitors just how emotional and intelligent turkeys really are.
“Turkeys deserve so much more than the world gives them,” the sanctuary wrote in a Facebook post.
And now, Shirley will never again know fear or loneliness. She’ll wake each morning to food, friends, and love — surrounded by people who see her for who she truly is.
“She will always wake up knowing that she has food, water, a warm home, and friends around her,” Higgins said. “She’s teaching everyone here how wonderful turkeys are.”
If you’d like to help more animals like Shirley, you can make a donation to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
