April 1, 2024
Christopher Boardman
The West Place Animal Sanctuary is celebrating a big birthday Monday.
Staff and volunteers helped Erna, a Crested Pekin Duck, celebrate her 17th birthday.
Described as West Place’s busiest foster mom, Erna has helped raise the sanctuary’s baby birds, including ducklings, goslings, poults, chicks and cygnets.
“Since starting West Place in 2007, there hasn’t been a day without Erna,” said Wendy Taylor, founder and executive director of West Place Animal Sanctuary.
“She is an incredibly special duck, and her motherly instincts have helped us save lives and raise orphaned birds at the sanctuary.”
There was a birthday celebration for Erna which included decorations and artwork, and a birthday cake topped her favorite, blueberries.
“This is a major milestone for Erna,” said Taylor.
“For a variety of reasons, farm animals do not often make it to old age. She has given the humans and the animals of West Place so much and in turn, West Place has given Erna the greatest gift of all – the opportunity to grow old.”
Crested Pekins have an average lifespan of 12 years, and Erna is the last of West Place’s original farm animal rescues from 2007.
West Place provides a permanent home and lifelong care to farm animals rescued from abuse, neglect, and cruelty situations.
“Many people still bring home rabbits, chicks, and ducklings around Easter, only to lose interest or discover they are not low-maintenance animals,” said Taylor.
“As Erna shows us, bringing home a duckling might end up requiring a commitment of two decades.”
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