Distress over mallard

10:38am Friday 13th June 2008

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I HAVE recently learnt a lesson and that is if you find an injured duck don't seek help to put it out of its suffering.

I feel rescue centres and the RSPCA aren't worth phoning when help is wanted.

Every year a trio of mallards visit my property from February until June and this year one male appeared on the lawn with its beak stuck open.

After two days of hoping it would get better, I spent the whole week telephoning places to rescue the duck for medical attention.

I may as well have not bothered. At first it ran around the lawn trying to eat from dishes very distressed, and watching it also distressed me.

I phoned the local vet and was given the number of a rescue centre in Evesham. They said to leave the duck for several days until it was too weak to fly.

The following day I telephoned a Worcester rescue centre three times and got an answerphone. No reply came back.

Six days on the poor duck came onto the lawn again. This time he looked very sick but I couldn't manage to catch him.

I telephoned the rescue centre in Evesham again to be told it was too far to come and they gave me the number for a rescue centre in Stourport. I phoned and details were taken but no one came that day.

The duck then managed to fly to a neighbour's field. The next day while I was out, a man from the Stourprot rescue centre visited but couldn't see the duck on my property.

I phoned the wildlife police officer for the area but she was not in that week. I telephoned the vet and was given the RSCPA's number but when I phoned a lady said she was at Telford and couldn't visit.

I phoned the Stourport rescue centre again the following day but then gave up.

By then I expect the poor duck was dead somewhere.

I won't bother to try in future.

DISTRESSED PENSIONER Name supplied Rock