A tale of three ducks: Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s story

Here at SPCA, our Inspectorate teams are called upon to help animals experiencing a range of welfare issues, and it’s not just cats and dogs we rescue! One Dunedin Inspector, Sophia, recently found four ducks living in terrible conditions during an inspection of a local home.

When Sophia first found them, it was a shocking sight. They were confined to a very small shed, living mostly in darkness with little to no daylight. Their living area was covered in layers of their own excrement, and no feed or palatable water was available.

Appalled and heartbroken at their situation, Sophia arranged for them to come into our care, where our vets were very concerned about their condition upon arrival. Sadly, one of the ducks passed away the following morning.

Their story is an important reminder of the research that should be done before bringing animals into your home - upon investigation, Sophia found that the ducks had been cared for primarily by a minor. She suspected that a lack of knowledge had led to their improper care, rather than malicious intent.

While it was disheartening to lose one of the ducks, we were relieved to see the others bounce back after receiving plenty of love and care with us at SPCA. The trio grew healthy and strong with the help of our vets and care team, and in time, were ready to find their forever homes.

Huey, Dewey, and Louie couldn’t go to just any home. We’re always sure to emphasize the importance of understanding the specific care your animal will require before adopting. Many people take on caring for a species without understanding their welfare needs; in fact, SPCA sees this often with poultry species.

Without the knowledge required to ensure a safe, happy, and healthy life, many pets suffer unnecessarily, even in the care of loving owners who assume they're making the right decisions. Doing your research is vital – as is ensuring that the primary caregiver of your new pet is 16 years of age or older.

Huey, Dewey, and Louie have settled into their gorgeous new life in Queenstown, after being adopted by a loving family – and meeting their new duck friends, Daisy and Donald!

Their new owner tells us that the three ducks are now showered with love and care, and have the sweetest personalities. During their first few days, their owners earned their trust by sitting with them for hours on end. It worked, and by the morning of their third day in their new home, the ducks were much more comfortable – and their owners knew it was time for the outside world!

“Their first moments in the water were an absolute joy to witness,” they tell us.“Watching them flap their wings and splash around was so heartwarming. Since then, they have fully settled into their new home with the others. Sometimes they even come up to the house, or greet me at my car when I come home from work! It makes my heart happy.”

We’re thrilled that Huey, Dewey, and Louie have found such a wonderful new home. It’s knowledgeable owners like theirs that can bring endless happiness to an animal’s life. If you think you could do the same, visit www.spca.nz/adopt to find the next member of your family!

And if you’re thinking of bringing a pet into your home, make sure that pet fits your lifestyle, home environment, and family dynamic. You should be able to provide the time and care they’ll need to live a full life – your new pet should get as much happiness out of living with you as you do from pet ownership! You can visit our site for information about owning pets of many kinds.