Rehabber took our duck and will not return him.

[jonijean]

Hello. I live in a condo association in Virginia Beach. We have a pond. There has been a Pekin duck on this pond since I moved in in 2004. We call him Frankie. He was recently injured and due to his age a few of us residents have been feeding him (meal worms, cracked corn, duck pellets, bird seed, peas, etc..) since he might have a harder time foraging. He swims, climbs out of the pond, grooms himself and is eating and drinking.

Someone called animal control and a rehabber took Frankie. We have been trying to find out who has him and if he is OK. We are getting the runaround. One rehabber said he's better off now and they won't return him. She won't tell us who has him. Is he in her bathtub? We don't know. The rehabber said he doesn't belong in a pond. She doesn't believe us that he's lived there about 20 years.

A few years ago they took his mate and refused to return her. Now they did it again. This is a private pond on private property. Can they do that???? Please help. We are devastated and need to know that he is OK.

 

[nuthatched]

Contact a lawyer or animal control to get your questions answered,we can't help you. 19 is old for a Pekin, frankly it's better for him not to succumb to predators.

 

[ruthhope]

Frankie has had a good innings but that in itself is amazing. Pekins are domesticated and do not have the insticts or flight ability to survive in the wild. That he has lived outside on the pond is a testimony to the good luck fairy and dodging overwhelming odds on being taken by a predator. Be happy that he did so well and gave so many enjoyment, and let him live out his final time in the safety of a rehabber. A rehabber's bath tub would be safer than the pond but Frankie will not be in a bathtub -- much more likely to be in a kiddie pool.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Returning a domesticated duck to the wild is considered animal dumping and is illegal. Unfortunately most dumped ducks don’t live as long a life as Frankie did.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hello. I live in a condo association in Virginia Beach. We have a pond. There has been a Pekin duck on this pond since I moved in in 2004. We call him Frankie. He was recently injured and due to his age a few of us residents have been feeding him (meal worms, cracked corn, duck pellets, bird seed, peas, etc..) since he might have a harder time foraging. He swims, climbs out of the pond, grooms himself and is eating and drinking.

Someone called animal control and a rehabber took Frankie. We have been trying to find out who has him and if he is OK. We are getting the runaround. One rehabber said he's better off now and they won't return him. She won't tell us who has him. Is he in her bathtub? We don't know. The rehabber said he doesn't belong in a pond. She doesn't believe us that he's lived there about 20 years.

A few years ago they took his mate and refused to return her. Now they did it again. This is a private pond on private property. Can they do that???? Please help. We are devastated and need to know that he is OK.

If this duck has been living "wild", he IS better off now. He is a domesticated duck, and if this rehabber is knowledgeable, which I expect they are, Frankie is now getting the proper care. It is illegal for Frankie to be taken back and released.

Pekins have a lifespan of about 10 years, in captivity. I know you are telling the truth, but I'm inclined to believe that Frankie is not 20, perhaps there was another look alike pekin before Frankie. Either way, he deserves the care and protection any domesticated animal needs.

I know that must be sad, not seeing him around anymore, but it's in his best interests

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Can they do that???? Please help. We are devastated and need to know that he is OK.

Welcome to BYC!

Animal control has the right to go wherever they want without permission.. and (usda) have put down many a "private" flock from "private" properties over avian influenza this year alone.

As an avid animal keeper and also wildlife enthusiast.. I can tell you there's nothing nice about living in the wild.. parasites are nasty predators.. and injuries suck.. poultry are masters at hiding pain because it makes them easy prey..

If he is indeed as old as you say.. then he very likely also has some arthritis going on.. and I unfortunately agree with what other posters have stated.. that Frankie is better off NOW even though you miss him!

To get answers.. maybe call you local "eye witness" news station and ask them to do a story on Frankie. Maybe they can report why dumping is a terrible ideal and even a feel good segment on how it went with the rehabber, or if he is living the best life possible now or not..

I do hope you can find answers that ease your heart. The rehabber taking him in should have been it. It would be for me.