Dollars 4 Ducks #saveLuna,Abigail,Pluto
Tax deductible
In August 2016, we rescued 116 ducklings from becoming dog food after being used by a rice farmer. They joined us at SHO Farm, our regenerative vegan permaculture farm and wildlife preserve, and thus was born Sanctuary at SHO.
They are bred Khaki Campbells that came from a hatchery. They’re known as high energy birds excellent at foraging. The females are the most prolific egg laying breed - something they are specifically bred for. The males are typically slaughtered for meat before they reach 4 months of age.
At SHO, we place no demands on the ducks, have no expectations of them, and offer them a forever, loving home.
The flock turned 3 years old on June 14th. Because they are bred to be part of the human food system, their quality and duration of life is not a consideration of the hatchery or the rice farmer.
It is everything to us at Sanctuary at SHO.
We have been faced with the consequences of animals bred for human food, for a short life, for high production of a product like eggs.
The consequences include serious, life-threatening medical conditions. The females in particular are at high risk of developing reproductive diseases including egg-binding, prolapsed uterus, cancer, and persistent second oviduct.
With these diseases comes infection, fever, loss of appetite, diminished energy, poor feather quality, anemia, difficulty walking due to the extra weight caused by fluid retention, and foot problems also due to the extra weight.
Ducks are resilient beings. It takes a lot to get them down.
Luna has been struggling with excess fluid in her belly for five months. She is not egg-bound, and she eats, drinks, and stays with the flock — all of which is encouraging. In May, Luna accompanied her friend, Mae, to see Dr. Wade — both females presenting with the same issues. Dr. Wade examined both females, and felt it was best to not do surgery on Luna at that time, since the surgery is high risk and there was a chance Luna’s body could reabsorb the fluid on its own, with more time. The fact that she was eating, drinking and moving were positive signs and worthy of giving her body more time to heal on its own. Mae, however, needed surgery. It was successful, and today Mae is free of the excess weight, her feet have healed, and she’s back with her flock in the orchard every day. Despite more time, Luna has not healed naturally. It’s evidence the added weight is taking a toll on her energy, her legs and her feet — nonetheless, her spirits are good. Now is the time to intervene surgically, while she is strong.
Abigail presented with the same physical issues as Luna about a month ago. She struggles to keep up with the flock, is carrying excess fluid in her belly which is taxing her legs and feet. Because of our experience with this condition, we believe it’s most responsible and in Abigail’s best interest to take her directly to Dr. Wade, who can provide Abigail with the most competent, excellent, and compassionate care available. As with Luna, given that Abigail is eating, drinking and relatively bright and strong, now is the best time for her to undergo high-risk surgery.
Pluto is one of our 51 males. He’s had a leg infection since May, which has caused excessive swelling, fever, and lameness. After 2 months trying courses of antibiotics and pain/anti-inflammatory medicine, he’s gained some relief but is not healed completely. He is strong, and has tremendous will to live. However, he doesn’t eat enough on his own, so each day we have to catch him — which is stressful on him — and tube-feed and medicate him, to ensure he’s getting adequate nutrition along with 100% of his medicine. Dr. Wade has indicated that it’s very difficult to treat leg infections like Pluto’s, because duck legs get very poor circulation making delivery of the medicine to the infected area very difficult. Performing surgery to open the infected area, drain it and directly apply antibiotic is the best next step to help Pluto regain his health and mobility.
While we don’t like to subject the ducks to surgery or invasive procedures, sometimes it is the answer to restoring their health and quality of life.
WE HAVE COME TO THAT PLACE WITH LUNA, ABIGAIL AND PLUTO.
THANKFULLY, WE HAVE DR. WADE TO HELP US WITH OUR SERIOUS CASES.
We have personally financed 95% of all medical costs for the ducks to date.
But, with 107 ducks in our care, instances like this require that we reach out for help to make live-saving procedures possible for them.
TODAY, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU for moving us closer to our goal of restoring health and quality of life for LUNA, ABIGAIL AND PLUTO.
Warmly,
Shawn Smith
SANCTUARY at SHO | Founder & Executive director
They are bred Khaki Campbells that came from a hatchery. They’re known as high energy birds excellent at foraging. The females are the most prolific egg laying breed - something they are specifically bred for. The males are typically slaughtered for meat before they reach 4 months of age.
At SHO, we place no demands on the ducks, have no expectations of them, and offer them a forever, loving home.
The flock turned 3 years old on June 14th. Because they are bred to be part of the human food system, their quality and duration of life is not a consideration of the hatchery or the rice farmer.
It is everything to us at Sanctuary at SHO.
We have been faced with the consequences of animals bred for human food, for a short life, for high production of a product like eggs.
The consequences include serious, life-threatening medical conditions. The females in particular are at high risk of developing reproductive diseases including egg-binding, prolapsed uterus, cancer, and persistent second oviduct.
With these diseases comes infection, fever, loss of appetite, diminished energy, poor feather quality, anemia, difficulty walking due to the extra weight caused by fluid retention, and foot problems also due to the extra weight.
Ducks are resilient beings. It takes a lot to get them down.
Luna has been struggling with excess fluid in her belly for five months. She is not egg-bound, and she eats, drinks, and stays with the flock — all of which is encouraging. In May, Luna accompanied her friend, Mae, to see Dr. Wade — both females presenting with the same issues. Dr. Wade examined both females, and felt it was best to not do surgery on Luna at that time, since the surgery is high risk and there was a chance Luna’s body could reabsorb the fluid on its own, with more time. The fact that she was eating, drinking and moving were positive signs and worthy of giving her body more time to heal on its own. Mae, however, needed surgery. It was successful, and today Mae is free of the excess weight, her feet have healed, and she’s back with her flock in the orchard every day. Despite more time, Luna has not healed naturally. It’s evidence the added weight is taking a toll on her energy, her legs and her feet — nonetheless, her spirits are good. Now is the time to intervene surgically, while she is strong.
Abigail presented with the same physical issues as Luna about a month ago. She struggles to keep up with the flock, is carrying excess fluid in her belly which is taxing her legs and feet. Because of our experience with this condition, we believe it’s most responsible and in Abigail’s best interest to take her directly to Dr. Wade, who can provide Abigail with the most competent, excellent, and compassionate care available. As with Luna, given that Abigail is eating, drinking and relatively bright and strong, now is the best time for her to undergo high-risk surgery.
Pluto is one of our 51 males. He’s had a leg infection since May, which has caused excessive swelling, fever, and lameness. After 2 months trying courses of antibiotics and pain/anti-inflammatory medicine, he’s gained some relief but is not healed completely. He is strong, and has tremendous will to live. However, he doesn’t eat enough on his own, so each day we have to catch him — which is stressful on him — and tube-feed and medicate him, to ensure he’s getting adequate nutrition along with 100% of his medicine. Dr. Wade has indicated that it’s very difficult to treat leg infections like Pluto’s, because duck legs get very poor circulation making delivery of the medicine to the infected area very difficult. Performing surgery to open the infected area, drain it and directly apply antibiotic is the best next step to help Pluto regain his health and mobility.
While we don’t like to subject the ducks to surgery or invasive procedures, sometimes it is the answer to restoring their health and quality of life.
WE HAVE COME TO THAT PLACE WITH LUNA, ABIGAIL AND PLUTO.
THANKFULLY, WE HAVE DR. WADE TO HELP US WITH OUR SERIOUS CASES.
We have personally financed 95% of all medical costs for the ducks to date.
But, with 107 ducks in our care, instances like this require that we reach out for help to make live-saving procedures possible for them.
TODAY, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU for moving us closer to our goal of restoring health and quality of life for LUNA, ABIGAIL AND PLUTO.
Warmly,
Shawn Smith
SANCTUARY at SHO | Founder & Executive director
Organizer
Shawn Smith
Organizer
Huntington, VT
Foundation for A Sustainable Future
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
