Ducks are semi-aquatic, meaning they prefer to live near or in water. Pet duck owners know to give them access to good quality water and lots of space to explore. However, one animal hoarder had kept two dozen ducks in terrible, non-aquatic conditions. After being rescued, these ducks met their first pond, and after a lot of encouragement, swam for the first time in their lives.
A Flock of Rescued Ducks
The team from Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary took in the ducks after they lived in overcrowded pens with little water access and not enough nutrition. The sanctuary staff helped them recover by providing proper food and a safe environment that included a pond. Once they recovered, it took time for the ducks to acclimate to the surroundings and the flock who already lived at the sanctuary.
Their First Swim
Despite what viewers might expect. The rescued ducks did not gleefully dive into the water. Instead, they navigated around it, seemingly afraid of it. The staff members encouraged the ducks and guided them into the pond but they promptly jumped out. Then the staff gently tossed the fowl one by one into the water. They again jumped out except for one duck who began splashing happily. Perhaps inspired by their comrade, the other ducks joined in. Birds are not as expressive as dogs or cats but their pure joy is apparent.
Lucky Ducks
The 2012 video of the happy ducks has garnered over 7 million views and many grateful commenters. “Thank you for helping these little ducks. They look so happy in the water. I’m truly grateful for your hard work!” wrote one.
Another said, “… Love it when the first duck stays in the pond and realizes the water is NOT going to hurt it. So cute. Made me laugh!”
The only damper was the knowledge of the abuse. A self-proclaimed previous owner of pet ducks wrote, “…It pained me to see these animals having to re-learn what it meant to be ducks because of human neglect… that they were actually AFRAID of the pond at first… it sickens me that people can be so cruel as to deny an animal its very nature.”
About Animal Hoarding
Animal hoarding, by definition, is a situation where a person houses more animals than they can properly care for. This means the person is unable to provide the minimal standards of sanitation, food, shelter, and medical care. This can lead to animal starvation, illness, over-breeding, and sometimes death, according to the Animal Humane Society. Sometimes, the hoarders believe they are truly helping the animals and deny they lack adequate treatment.
Signs of Animal Hoarding
Having a multitude of pets does make someone an animal hoarder. But indicators of this issue generally include:
- An unusually high number of pets, or the person doesn’t know know the number of pets
- Lack of sanitation, shelter, nutrition, and veterinary care for the animals
- A dirty, cluttered, and dilapidated home
- Strong odors in the home from feces, urine, vomit, etc.
- The presence of fleas, vermin, and parasites
- Emaciated or obese animals
- Lethargic and under-socialized pets
- The owner may suffer from isolation, mental illness, or physical ailments
- The owner may suffer from intense anxiety at the thought of giving the animals away
Most cases of animal hoarding end with the owners voluntarily giving the animals to shelters. In less common cases, the law has to step in and seize the animals. Rarely, the owner is charged with animal abuse.
Caring For Pet Ducks
People may be surprised to hear that ducks can make wonderful pets. However, they take a lot of work and attention, according to the RSPCA. For one, ducks are social creatures so they should live with companions. They also need access to clean water that’s deep enough to fully submerge themselves. They are curious by nature, and can be quite destructive while they explore. Additionally, it’s labor-intensive to set up the coop, nesting boxes, floor covers to soak up litter (which should be changed regularly), and keep the water source clean. If you’re interested in owning ducks, do thorough research first.
About Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
But ducks are not the only animals living at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. According to their website, they currently care for almost 300 rescued animals, including chickens, cows, bunnies, sheep, pigs, turkeys, geese, and sheep. The sanctuary has been running for 20 years now, and has helped over 3,000 animals. In addition, they advocate for veganism and the end of animal cruelty through tours of their farm.