Walmart Was Correct To Fire This Old Dude After A Wild Turkey Got Into The Store On His Watch

WISN - The 88-year-old Walmart greeter who was working the doors the day a wild turkey wound up inside the store says he was shocked to learn a few days later that he’d been fired because of the incident.

“It starts and it goes back around and then it walks out,” Tallinger, of Waukesha, said of the March 27 incident. A Humane Animal Welfare Society official was called in and ultimately was able to capture the bird by luring it into a net.

In his eight years as a greeter at the store, Tallinger said he’d never seen anything like it.

His wife, Janet Tallinger, said her husband’s termination is unfair.

“He was hired to be a greeter and that’s what he did. He never saw a book of rules that said if a wild turkey comes in here you better run and get management,” she said. “Granted he’s gotten older and granted he’s lost a little memory but nevertheless that hasn’t prevented him from being an excellent greeter.” 

He said the job was the highlight of his days.

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I hate to say it, but this guy deserved to be fired. It doesn’t matter that he’s 88 years old. Doesn’t matter that he brings joy and happiness to everyone who walks into his local Walmart, where he greets them with a smile on his face. You simply cannot allow a wild turkey to run wild in the store on your watch. You have a responsibility to the shoppers of Walmart to protect them from wild turkey attacks, and he simply did not do the job. Walmart has to look out for their customers first and foremost. First turkeys, then what’s next? Terrorists? Frat bros? The risk is too high. So thank you Bob Tallinger for your service, but much like wiping your own ass, this job too has passed you by.