Lara became a duck again
(de Nederlandse versie van het verhaal van Lara is hier te lezen)
Lara was resued by a lovely lady who works in a shelter for birds in the Netherlands. This is what she wrote about her:
"Lara is a Peking duck, like those ducks you will find in factory farms. They are wonderful animals to get to know and so much more than meat on your plate. Lara has touched many around us. She got me right in my heart and hasn't let me go. Together we have fought for her, she didn't give up and finally she became better. She is special and couldn't be any other way being such a small duck with such a big heart.
It really hurts me when I see the photos of factory farmed ducks. Apart form the fact that it is awful to keep any animal in these conditions, ducks have special requirements. Ducks need to be able
to swim and wash. I see it
every day at the shelter: a bird that belongs in the water feels
terrible when it is dirty.
When Lara came to us she was very sick and completely filthy. A bundle of
dirty feathers, with dried blood and dirt.
But once she became a little bit better I gave her a shallow bowl with warm water. She could not stand more than 10 seconds, too weak, and dizzy, but oh what a joy it was...her first bath. I had to help her, but she enjoyed it to the bottom of her heart.
I got to know her as a very special duck. She touched a whole neighbourhood with her cheerful nature. She did not really know how to do the things ducks do. But she entrusted herself to me and my human things (cages and bowls with food and plastic swimming basins).
Now about 2 months later she is almost
better and a complete duck. I introduced her to her own species, the other ducks. Now she
lives outside with the other waterfowl in open water and mud and grass. I was surprised how quickly she became duck again, because that is simply what they are and what
they remain. A shiny happy animal in a beautiful white coat of plumage.
She has changed. She doesn't run to me when I enter the area and she doesn't follow me around anymore. She's stopped begging and doesn't sit on my lap. She quacks loudly, swims around, dives for food and shakes herself dry with great pleasure. She paddles through dirty mud puddles, waddles through the shelter, shakes her wings and enjoys a
nap in the Sun.
And that
is how it should be, for a Peking duck...... "
