19/10/2021
From the article below:
“Nothing sticks out more to a predator than a domestic duck that has no way of defending itself, and that cannot elude even the slowest of predators. I cannot tell you the number of times, almost weekly, that I get calls about ‘community’ ducks or ‘neighborhood’ ducks that everyone enjoys seeing walking down the middle of a street or swimming in the local pond or lake. People will say that they just look so ornamental, or that they add character to our pond, and we enjoy looking out the window and seeing them, even though the ducks, if they could, would probably look back at them and ask, ‘why did you do this to me, I don’t know what to do without YOU protecting and feeding and caring for me’. Let me say that ornaments belong on a Christmas tree, or on your curio cabinet in your home, not struggling to survive out in the wild.
You may even hear people say how happy the duck looks out in the wild. Well, we’ve been rescuing ducks on a large scale for many years, and I can honestly say that I cannot look at it duck and tell you if it’s actually happy or not. I may think so through wishful thinking, or even to justify my action. I may assume they are happy, but I cannot guarantee that. I can assure you though, that a domestic duck out in the wild, trying to survive, is not happy, as he is constantly on the defensive lookout for predators just lurking about for that one opportunity to kill them, which they eventually will do. It doesn’t matter if you had them outside and they have not been attacked for three weeks or three years or even more, once a predator finds them they will destroy them, mercilessly. Worse than that, they will maim them so severely they will die of suffering and starvation.
Buying a duck for two dollars, and throwing it in the local pond for amusement and visual gratification, is not their purpose to exist in life. They are truly no different than your dog or cat, or any other pets that you care for and keep protected from harm. Just because they sell them 30 in a tank for a couple dollars each, does not mean they are easily dispensable, nor does it diminish their value for living. They are very inexpensive because they can churn them out by the tens of thousands in a mere 28 days.
Price should not be a determining factor in how are you care for something. Just because you spend $1000 for a tropical bird, and only two dollars for a duck, does not mean that the duck should be taken any less care of then the bird. Supply and demand affects the cost, but cost should not affect the care. Both deal with pain, suffering, starvation, fear, loss of companionship, lack of comfort, etc.
Before you purchase a duck, or any animal as a pet, please ask yourself some of these simple questions; “why am I making this purchase, do I need to make this purchase, am I able to care for this purchase, am I able to sacrifice a good portion of my life while this purchase is alive, do I have the means to support and care for this purchase for the rest of its life, am I able to protect this purchase as I would a loving family member (and there is much to be said about that as well), am I willing to sacrifice vacations, sleep and other things I may need or want or enjoy having?”
Owning and caring for a pet is one of the most rewarding and satisfying feelings an individual can experience, especially if it has been rescued from neglect and loneliness.
Money and material objects are things that can be replaced one way or another, but pets are something that you share your time and love with, and your time is one of the most valuable things you’ll ever have in life. Time in life is limited, you only have so much, and when you run out, that’s it. Pets can give wonderful satisfaction that money cannot. Have you ever tried watching TV with the $10 bill on your chest? How satisfying is that? How about with a dog lying beside you or a duck sitting on your lap listening to your heartbeat, as you feel theirs in return. How satisfying could that be? Put that same $10 bill on the floor and call it to come to you… what happens… nothing! Call a dog or a cat and even a duck and see what happens. Now take that animal and throw it outside and lock your door, and watch its sadness, confusion and actions as it desperately tries in a way unknown to us, to try to understand why it was tossed out of our comforting and caring arms, after having once known that love and comfort. Now it knows only fear, sadness, and the unknown, and there is nothing more stressful to an animal, then knowing the unknown. No different than people, although we have the cognitive ability to try to understand the unknown, and to deal with it, and an animal does not. They shutter with fear at the slightest unfamiliar sound, the most unexpected motion, or even a leave falling off of a tree in their direction. We understand the wind and what it can do, but an animal does not. A wind whistling through the trees can frighten almost any animal, and instill such a fear, that it will no longer trust anything or anyone ever again
Please… just think things out and do diligent research before you purchase any pet at all, but especially ducks, because sadly, they are the least understood and learned about, and most the taken for granted as… ‘Just a duck’!”
Before you continue on this post, please understand that this read is in no way intended to offend, demean or ridicule anyone who may have experienced these situations first hand, unless of course,…
