Just Ducky

I noticed today that there were 2 new “Follower’s” listed on my dashboard.  I’m not sure exactly when they joined my group of Follower’s, but I appreciate you both very much.  Welcome aboard to mactraveler and  maglaveer.  I would like to extend a big THANK YOU and let you know that I appreciate the attention you give to reading my blog.

Our current location:  Tumwater, Washington

When in Tumwater, we stay at a very old mobile home park that has some RV sites for monthly rent.  It works for us.  We have become friendly with many of the residents since we return to the same location a few times during the year.   

Yesterday when I was taking Annie for a walk, our next door neighbor (don’t know her name yet) was in her front yard.  I stopped to talk with her for a while and I noticed this little white critter in a special seat on the lawn.  It was a white duck.

                                            This is our neighbor’s house next door to our RV space.

I inquired about this little duck and learned that his name is Honey.  Ms. Neighbor has had him for a few years.  He is impaired and has been since birth.  She got him from a local feed store when they had some ducks they were going to sell.  Nobody wanted Honey and he was just about ready to be destroyed because he was considered useless.  Ms. Neighbor took him home with her that day.

She takes good care of him.  Like I said, she had constructed this little seat for him to be able to come outdoors and enjoy the sunshine.  Honey cannot walk or hold his head upright.  Apparently, this problem developed in the egg when he wasn’t turned over enough.  (don’t know anything about this egg stuff myself)  Ms. Neighbor has taken him to the vet and there is nothing physically wrong with him….he has 2 legs and 2 webbed feet.  He also has 2 wings.  The vet said he is not in pain and appeared to be happy.  I guess you could say Honey is mentally challenged and his brain did not develop fully. 

Ms. Neighbor even bought him his own wading pool and brings him out in the nice weather to let him splash around in the water.  Annie saw him and watched with interest.  While we watched Honey, it looked like he was having a great swim.

                                            Ms. Neighbor helps Honey in the water so he doesn’t drown.

Honey is able to splash and swim a little bit by himself.  He cannot hold his head upright and float like a normal duck does.  He even quacked a couple of times.  I’m sure he was saying, “Yippee, I’m in the pond like every other duck!”

                                            His poor little head stays tucked down by his body.

                                            Honey kicked his little webbed feet all around the pool.
After we watched for several minutes, Annie grew tired of waiting for the rest of her walk, and we moved on around the corner.  Ms. Neighbor was really devoted to this little deformed duck.  How wonderful that she cared enough to save him from a certain death. 

Honey has been a very good pet for my neighbor.  She also has a couple of “perfect” cats and they get along well with the duck.  Thank goodness there is somebody in the world willing to care for the imperfect animals as well as the perfect ones.  

Until next time….so long for now!