Teenagers urged not to buy ducklings

Teenagers urged not to buy ducklings

By Mary Dennehy

THE DSPCA has urged anybody who bought a duckling in recent days to not release them in local parks.

On Monday of this week animal welfare organisations, including the DSPCA and Clondalkin Animal Aid, were inundated with calls about teenagers buying ducklings from street sellers for as little as €5.

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Some of the young duckling rescued this week

On Tuesday morning, the DSPCA was caring for 23 surrendered ducklings at its Rathfarnham-based shelter, with the animal shelter continuing to receive calls, emails and reports concerning the buying and selling of baby ducks.

Speaking with The Echo on Tuesday afternoon, Clondalkin Animal Aid said they had collected 50 ducklings, many of which have been rehomed with vetted people who have a history of caring for ducks.

Clondalkin Animal Aid received more than 400 messages of support from members of the public, all offering to collect ducklings from locations right across Dublin – and deliver them to a place where they could be cared for properly.

According to the DSPCA, ducklings cannot survive in cold water without the oils from their mother’s feathers and can die from hypothermia.

Also, without their mother, ducklings cannot learn to feed and can die from the wrong diet.

In an urgent call to the parents of young people buying ducklings from street sellers, and to teenagers themselves, Gilian Bird of the DSPCA told The Echo: “We have had reports of ducklings been dumped in local parks, they will not survive this.

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“We’re asking people to surrender [the ducklings], don’t put them into parks.

“Please contact the DSPCA.”

The DSPCA believes that some of the ducklings are from farms, and others from along the canals in Dublin – with the unsettling trend believed to have generated from social media.

“People need to be aware and conscious that these are living creatures”, Ms Bird said.

“It’s also a crime taking an animal from the wild.”

She added: “Nobody is prepared to take on a duckling.

“If it survives the first few days, which in itself would be a miracle, what are you going to do when it grows into a duck?”

The Dublin-wide trend has left animal welfare charities and volunteers exhausted in recent days, as they collect ducklings from right across the city.

Clondalkin Animal Aid started to receive calls on Sunday evening from the parents of children who arrived home with a duckling – and the phone has been ringing since.

Rachel Johnson of Clondalkin Animal Aid said: “It’s very upsetting, like what about the mammy ducks now that their ducklings are gone?

“Some of the ducklings we’ve gotten are only a day old.

“I’d encourage any parent whose child comes home with a duckling to not be afraid to contact an animal welfare organisation, ask for help.

“I’d also ask young people to not buy ducklings…don’t encourage sellers.

“Also, please don’t put a picture or video [of yourself and a duckling] on social media, you’re just encouraging others.”

Rachel highlighted the outpouring of support from the general public, and the level of awareness that has been raised – particularly around the serious animal welfare issue associated.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the DSPCA on 01 4994700 or through their Facebook page or website, www.dspca.ie.

Clondalkin Animal Aid can be contacted through its Facebook page or by emailing clondalkinanimalaid@hotmail.com

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