80 Ducks 'Saved From Slaughter' Adopted, Fostered After Appeal

BRANFORD, CT — It wasn't 35 ducks and chickens — it was 80 ducks that were "saved from slaughter," Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter director Laura Burban said after a Patch story Monday.

The shelter posted to its Facebook page that it was notified by "somebody" that they had rescued the birds from being killed and needed help finding them homes.

Initially, Burban and the shelter staff believed it was a combination of ducks and chickens, around 35 of them, that had been "rescued." Turned out to be all ducks, she said.

When asked what the person meant when they said they birds had been saved from slaughter, Burban explained.

"A guy walked into what he thought was a deli in Waterbury, but it turned out to be a slaughterhouse. He freaked out when he saw the conditions of the ducks, and he paid to save each and every one of them," she said. "It was his Valentine’s Day gift to himself. He was the nicest guy ever . He didn’t want any recognition or anything. He just wanted them safe."

So as of late Monday night, Burban said that 34 ducks were adopted and 54 were in "foster homes for the night." She expected 45 to be adopted Tuesday from "all rescue people we have worked with in the past; they’ve either adopted from us or are duck people we know." The remaining 10 or so ducks are up for adoption.

Burban said some people posted to Facebook asserting that "taxpayers" should not have to support such an effort.

"I want to point out that volunteers from multiple towns including Branford, Guilford, Madison, North Branford, East Haven even Fairfield all stepped up to help us," she noted. "And the guy who brought us the ducks paid for all their food and then came back and donated other supplies to the other shelter animals, too."

More than 1,000 Facebook users shared the post, 700 liked it, and there were more than 400 comments, most from people applauding the effort.

"It cost the town nothing other than a post on Facebook," she said, adding that when people saw the Facebook post, supporters offered to donate money to help the ducks and other animals, too.

"I have to say the outpouring of support, the amount of people who stepped up to help and the amazing people who surround the shelter never cease to amaze me," Burban said.