Peace and goodwill doesn’t extend to all life on earth and especially not to turkeys.

But while millions of the birds will end up slaughtered for Christmas dinners, these ones escaped death row.

Amey Evans, owner of Happy Pants Ranch animal centre in Rainham, went on a rescue mission on Monday to pick up 15 ex-farm turkeys and drove them to freedom.

She said: “I’m always on the look out for turkeys at Christmas so I can save them from Christmas dinner. I contacted a few turkey farms and they said they wouldn’t let any go alive before Christmas.”

But after putting an appeal on Facebook she got in touch with Retreat Animal Rescue Centre in Ashford where about 50 farm turkeys were being kept.

She said: “I think someone paid a farm to save them. I got 15. Some are going to my friend and the rest are staying here.

“I picked them up on Monday and drove back in the afternoon singing Christmas carols.”

Amey would have taken more, but the avian influenza prevention zone put in place by the government means all birds need to be kept inside and she doesn’t have space.

She said: “They’re not free range turkeys so they’ve never been out before. It’s sad we’ve got the avian ban on at the moment. I would love to let them out but that will have to wait until January. They’re quite happy.”

Amey, 32, also urged others to help save turkeys from the Christmas dinner table and explained the vegan philosophy that inspires her work.

“Turkeys are lovely,” she said. “They’ve got so much character about them and they do make lovely pets. They like to roam and be free.

“Dennis, my last turkey, was such a character. He used to talk back to you and follow you around like a dog. A lot of people said to me there’s no way I’m eating turkey again after seeing Dennis.

“I’m vegan so I don’t agree with eating any animals and I won’t eat anything I love. I’m always on the lookout to save anything from slaughter.

“Rescue pets are the best pets – there’s no need to buy anything from a breeder.”

Find The Happy Pants Ranch on Facebook for more information on the centre’s work