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Think Before You Buy Pets for Holiday
CT Post/ Editorial
Easter is nearly upon us and I write to bring
awareness to an animal cruelty issue.
We live adjacent to Sochrin Pond in Seymour, and for
the past two years people have dropped off and abandoned their pet ducks here.
People buy ducklings at the holidays not understanding that
these are domestic animals and don't fly. They cannot migrate in the fall
with the mallard ducks. Fall comes,
food sources diminish and they begin to starve, and then winter comes and the
ice encroaches around them on the very ponds they sit on.
Domestic ducks are susceptible to frostbite,
among other dangers. A Pekin duck (white with orange legs and
bill) was dropped off in the spring of 2006. We were unable to find anyone
to help this poor hen. The mallards all flew south and she was left alone
and we were unable to catch her. We continued to feed her until one Thursday
night we discovered Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary here in Connecticut, which
specializes in domestic duck and goose rescues. They were planning to come
out Saturday morning to do the rescue, but Friday evening she froze right into the ice
and became trapped. Fortunately, we discovered her before any predators
did, and we were able to chip her out of the ice and save her. Majestic came
out that morning to bring "Hildegarde" into their safe haven.
Last year, two more pet ducks were dropped
off on this very pond. Again, Majestic came out to their rescue. Their shelter is
brimming with abandoned pet ducks and geese--former pets that were thrown
away on public ponds to fend for themselves, in an environment in which
non-flying birds, without teeth or claws or the ability to run, could not
possibly defend themselves.
There are so many animals at Majestic in need
of safe and loving homes, and so many more on their waiting list. People,
please stop adding to the problem and become part of the solution. Please
resist the urge to purchase live pets at Easter time unless you fully plan
to offer them a lifetime of care.
Rita Millak
Seymour
Article originally published March 11, 2008 |
