Saturday on our way home from town, we nearly ran over a baby duck. My husband is a huge softy, an animal lover to the core, so we pulled over and he ran back to get the baby duck out of the road (her sibling had already been hit and killed). He looked in the woods next to the road and listened, but momma duck was no where around.
It was very, very young, maybe 2-3 days old at the most. We didn't know what else to do, so we took the baby duck home. We made her a wonderful little habitat, gave her a mirror and a stuffed animal, read and read about her on the internet and did everything we could to make her thrive.
The kids gently held her, loved her, and named her Pip. Just today she spent 30 minutes "nesting" in Sara's hair. This afternoon, Jake was holding her and I thought to myself I should take a picture, but of course, I didn't. Tonight we noticed she wasn't as lively as usually and after an hour or two while Todd held her, she died. We tried to wake up Jake so he could say goodbye, but he was so sound asleep. Todd and I made her a box and put in her favorite stuffed animal and buried her in our backyard. I don't know why, but I'm really upset about losing this little duck. We really feel like we let her down.
Good night, sweet Pip. We'll miss you.
4 comments:
Oh dear - I'm so sorry about Pip. :( Last week I buried a bird that died in my hands after a run-in with our porch window. It was very sad. :(
You were good to take her home and care for her - the kids will probably never forget that.
Oh, Michelle. How very sweet that you and Todd tried to save Pip. What a wonderful lesson of selflessness and kindness you showed your children. I am sorry that she passed, and I too would be heartbroken.
But you did not let her down, you gave her love and respect on the few days of her life...
such a sad story!! sorry that pip didn't make it, but sounds like you did a great job to take good care of him.
What beautiful children you have, and hope your process moves quickly and you get Tessa home sooner rather than later:)
Oh, how sad. What a neat experience for all of you. I am so sorry Pip didn't make it.
Post a Comment