Each year, millions of turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving meals. They’re often seen as nothing more than the main dish or centerpiece of a holiday dinner, but we know they’re not food. They’re living beings who have unique personalities—just like dogs and cats! Turkeys enjoy being petted and like to chirp, cluck, and gobble along to music. People can protect these special animals by not eating them.

Here are three things you can do this year to help turkeys:

1. Have a vegan holiday or, better yet—share it with your family!

PETA Kids has created a holiday survival guide that’s jam-packed with recipes, tips, and answers to hard questions. Download it here, and start planning your cruelty-free celebration.

2. Show PETA’s Thanksgiving video to your family and friends.

This video features a young girl saying grace at her family’s Thanksgiving dinner table and describing the cruel treatment of turkeys, much to the surprise of her relatives:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qopt6A46DvM

3. Rent and watch the movie Free Birds with your friends and family members.

This animated film tells the story of turkeys who go back in time to change the very first Thanksgiving so that turkeys never end up on the menu. Watching it together with your friends and family is a great way to start a discussion about compassion for turkeys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9RvyOjnyxk

Want to learn more about turkeys? Check out these cool photos and facts: