Jerry the turkey can't see to fly. Photo: jeniphur99/Flickr
Jerry, a three-year-old Narraganset Turkey, was recently evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, who determined that the bird is most likely blind. To improve the bird's quality of life, the doctor recommended cataract surgery -- a procedure that, according to Medeiros, costs "upwards of $2600."
You might assume that someone willing to go to all this trouble to raise this kind money for a turkey is quite attached to her pet. In reality, Jerry has been a member of the Medeiros family only for about a week. He and his companion Penelope were adopted by Medeiros and her husband via a Craigslist ad posted by a woman in a nearby town whose own health prevented her from caring for the birds.
Lyndsey Medeiros is no stranger to animals in need. She and her husband own a hobby farm where, in addition to breeding Nigerian Dwarf Goats, they care for other animals with health problems.
Not surprisingly, Medeiros says she has received a lot of negative feedback from her Craigslist posting. While she understands the reaction -- especially this close to Thanksgiving -- she is asking for a little compassion for her non-traditional pet. She believes that if Jerry were a dog, a cat, or even a horse, people would respond differently. Some people, however, have responded differently: As of Monday, she has received about $200 in donations to save Jerry's eyesight.
