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There are endless ways for turkey lovers—the millions of people who'd rather rehabilitate than ravage birds' bruised and abused bodies, to celebrate Thanksgiving. Among them are a few festivities that got a jump-start on the holiday that is becoming increasingly veggie-centric.

• NYC's iconic eatery Sardi's continues to include its historic mouthwatering vegan fare on its Thanksgiving menu.
• Last week, our friend Ellen DeGeneres showed her viewers how easy it is to prepare vegan Thanksgiving dishes.
• We're cheering right along with the nearly 15,000 members of The Wedge Natural Foods Co-Op in Minneapolis after reading that the store's general manager, Lindy Bannister, pardoned a Tofurky.
• Farm Sanctuary and the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary celebrated Turkey Day by honoring their happy residents over the weekend. And vegans in Long Island, New York, gathered on Sunday for the humongous Hempstead Food Not Bombs event.
• From Eugene, Oregon, to Santa Rosa, California, and at all points in between, vegans will nosh at Thanksgiving potlucks and parties.

It seems that just about everyone, including the adorablogging dog Teddy Hilton, is offering up info on turkeys, vegan recipes, and/or Thanksgiving events. Share your vegan news or tips in the comments section below.

Written by Karin Bennett

Every year, a couple of days before Thanksgiving, our nation's president "pardons" two of the 46 million turkeys who are set to be slaughtered for holiday meals. And every year, we write to the president asking him to ensure that the turkeys receive the care necessary to give them the lengthy, happy lives that they deserve.

This year, we're asking President Obama to send the birds to a reputable animal sanctuary instead of to Disneyland, where the pardoned birds are traditionally sent—and where they usually die from agonizing genetic defects within a year of finding "freedom." Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary has already agreed to take the turkeys if Obama makes the informed, humane decision to send them there.

We're also urging Obama to recognize the millions of compassionate Americans who personally pardon turkeys every Thanksgiving by choosing a cruelty-free feast for the first family this year. We're even offering them a sure-to-be-succulent vegan holiday meal—all-American vegan apple pie and soy ice cream included.

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Saving lives, being healthy, and fighting climate change—you can never have too many things to be thankful for, which is why a vegan Thanksgiving is the best way to celebrate the holiday. Now, pardon me while I plan a menu.

Written by Logan Scherer

It was a cagey scene outside NASA headquarters in D.C. yesterday when our primates urged NASA to scrap its misguided $1.75 million plan to torment monkeys in radiation experiments. The demonstration was out-of-this-world spectacular, prompting NASA employees to approach our volunteers for some dynamic discussions. No one could walk by these guys without stopping to have a second look:

Photo | Kenneth Marty

The more than two dozen monkeys in NASA's crude experiment will be zapped with a massive dose of radiation at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island, New York, and then spend the rest of their lives condemned to a laboratory at Harvard's McLean Hospital where they'll be enlisted in a never-ending series of experiments to assess how the radiation devastates their brains and bodies. NASA has admitted that the radiation is "going to cause some cellular damage." What they really mean is that the monkeys may likely suffer from brain damage, cancer and premature aging.

It goes without saying that you should urge NASA to abandon these abhorrent experiments ASAP.

Written by Logan Scherer

Who needs a spa treatment when you can rejuvenate your soul by nuzzling 800-pound piggies at an animal sanctuary?

Well, a group of us kids from PETA and the PETA Foundation were lucky enough to do just that over the weekend. An hour north of D.C. lies a spectacular oasis called Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. It consists of 400 acres devoted entirely to the rehabilitation of abused and/or neglected animals. This past Sunday, Poplar Spring hosted its annual Open House and Fundraiser. I don't think anyone could turn down yummy vegan nosh and cuddle time with the cuties pictured below, do you?

This is Bobby and yours truly. Before coming to the sanctuary, he and his friend Harry had lived their entire lives in cages and were used in insulin experiments. When they arrived at Poplar Spring, both of them were white as snow because they had never seen a single ray of sunshine. The first thing they did when they arrived at Poplar? They dove into a mud pool and stared up in amazement at the trees and stars. What a lucky guy, and such a looker too!

I'm telling you, folks, I highly recommend finding your nearest animal sanctuary and visiting. Or better yet, volunteer! With Thanksgiving coming up, most farm sanctuaries have special Thanksgiving celebrations that honor their turkeys. If my picture doesn't convince you, maybe these will.

Written by Missy Lane