He came into the shelter with a smile, but his walk caught attention. His feet turned out like a duck’s, so noticeably rolled that it made even experienced staff pause.
He carried himself like he didn’t notice. Instead of hiding off to the side, he offered up his paw, head tilted, hopes high.
The California volunteers weren’t sure what his future held, but they knew the present demanded help. So they chipped in; checks, treatment, and love.
He responded in kind, rolling on his back, wiggling with joy at the smallest gesture. His feet kept flapping, but his spirit didn’t.
When someone finally decided he wasn’t just special, he was adoptable. That’s when the transformation began.
All He Needed Was One Chance
During his first days at Lancaster Animal Care Center in Lancaster, California, a dog named Ducky was immediately noted for just how sweet and caring he was.
Everyone fell in love with him almost immediately. The fact that he was in a shelter didn’t affect his mood at all. He just loved being surrounded by people all the time.
One of the volunteers, Evelyn, told The Dodo: “He wasn’t letting the environment get to him at all. He was just so hopeful.”
When the California rescuers first examined him, they noticed something odd about his feet. His paws were sticking out at a 90-degree angle.
They almost looked like a duck’s webbed feet, which is basically how he got his name. The rescuers first assumed that it may have been due to genetics.
But they also considered the possibility that Ducky was like that simply because he spent too long in small and confined spaces.
Now that was just heartbreaking. He was given an X-ray at the veterinary clinic and even they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with his feet.
He Did Not Feel Any Pain
What they did learn was that his odd feet were not causing him any pain or discomfort, and he should be able to live with them just fine.
Ducky also had a microchip, but after calling the number, the owners said they didn’t want him anymore, which was just sad, but also probably for the best.
This sweet dog needs someone who will love and care for him. If his owners kept him confined in small places all the time, then he needed better owners.
Ducky needed a foster home for a short period of time, so Evelyn took the opportunity and the two of them got along great.
Eventually, Ducky was taken in by Minnie’s Mutts Dog Rescue, which found a long-term foster home for him. And as soon as that happened, the rescuers realized that Ducky was thriving.
It’s clear to everyone now that he gets along with just about anyone, but it will still take a bit of time before he finds a forever home. Until then, he gets to enjoy living with his new favorite human.
Evelyn ended by saying: “There’s not even enough words to explain how excited I would be for him. The day I hear that he gets adopted, it’s just going to melt my heart. He’s really such a special dog.”