The President, and apparently some governors (Sarah Palin recently participated in the ceremony) have a tradition of issuing a “pardon” for a turkey.
Are these turkeys actually saved, or are they simply killed once the cameras stop rolling?
The pardoned turkey goes to live on a farm somewhere, I’ve read, and is not killed… at least that year. But the President’s family eats another turkey anyway, so it’s a hollow ritual.
They go here.
The answer is yes - at least for the one pardoned by the President. There are actually two turkeys brought to DC each year. They have a second one on standby in case there is a problem with first. After the ceremony, both of the birds end up going to a local park that has some other animals. It is unlikely that you will find a lot of pardoned turkeys around, however. Because these are production birds, their lifespan is pretty short - usually less than 2 years.
And it looks like Johny L.A. was a llittle more timely - it looks like they have a newer home than the place used in years past. They get to go to Disneyworld…
Pardoned Turkeys?
What next?
Rattlesnakes given the freedom of Chicago, Skunks given the keys to Boston.
Only in America, the mind truly boggles 
Turkey Pardons, The Stuffing of Historic Legend: A Presidential Tradition Began Way Back but Not So Long Ago.
From page 4:
This year’s pardoned Presidential bird is a local! Story here.
According to the article, several birds were chosen in July and were raised separately from the others so that they’ll know how to behave around paparazzi.
Am I the only one who sees this whole turkey-pardoning thing as disturbingly similar to:
“Wewease Wodger!”
“Wewease Bwian!”
Everyone else is gonna die but some lucky random sumbitch is going free for no good reason.
When I saw your name I immediately thought of a turkey with a score to settle. ‘My name is Meleagris Gallopavo. You killed my father. Prepare to die.’
Me: You have to be more specific than that.
Turkey: What?
Me: The day your father was honored to be my dinner was the biggest day of your life. For me… It was Thursday.
(from Johnny’s link)
I wonder what kind of problems they had with the cow?