HUMMELSTOWN, Pa. — A Chester County animal rescue organization is looking to find homes for two domesticated ducks that were rescued from a semi-frozen pond at Bullfrog Valley Park in Hummelstown by concerned volunteers.
According to the Sweet Peace Farm Sanctuary, several concerned citizens reported seeing the ducks, which have been struggling to survive in the wintry conditions, the non-profit organization said on Facebook.
The sanctuary said it was unable to assist right away, because its avian area was under quarantine after another recent rescue.
But the situation became dire on Monday, when Sweet Peace was contacted by a concerned caller who reported one of the ducks, a white Pekin, was stuck in the frozen water, spinning helplessly as it attempted to escape the cracked ice.
The second duck, a brown variety, was slipping and sliding on the surface, the caller reported.
Sweet Peace volunteers, joined by members of the Good Sprout Rescue and Sanctuary, teamed up to save the stricken ducks.
They were taken to Sweet Peace, which figured out a way to safely house them alongside other ducks waiting to find homes.
The ducks were suffering from bumblefoot, a staph infection on their feet which can become fatal if left untreated, the rescue group said. They were also suffering from a lice infestation and malnutrition.
Now that the new arrivals are safe, Sweet Peace is looking for someone to give them permanent homes.
"We need compassionate adopters," the organization said. "Please reach out to us if you are able to provide a predator-proofed home for ducks with access to an avian vet.
"If you are an interested beginner, we would love to help you and guide you throughout all of the joys and rewarding challenges of responsible duck caretaking."
Sweet Peace said it rescued eight ducks from the same location in the park at this time last year.
"Why do people pick the cruelest, most dangerous time of year to abandon helpless birds?" Sweet Peace asked in its Facebook post. "We hope one day that there will be no more dumped ducks here or anywhere else."
