A Duck Named Garry

He is a bird of quiet charm, with a zest for life as dazzling as the emerald and violet hues in his feathers. Alas, though, this was not enough to prevent him being abandoned and lost to human care.

We will never fully know his backstory. As with most rescues, we rarely do. But we do know this—he had become a wanderer in an unfamiliar world. As a non-native duck species, hunger gnawed at him as danger lurked in the shadows. Then, his world went dark as sharp canine teeth met his soft feathers, and blood mixed with pain flowed.

Garry’s story is one of survival. Attacked by a predator and left for dead, his fate seemed sealed. But it was not the predator who returned to finish the job, because kindness beat them there.

Cayuga ducks are known to be calm, intelligent, and friendly. And after spending time with our Garry, we can confirm that he fits the bill (no pun intended) perfectly!

For now, Garry is still recovering from his ordeal. His back wounds are healing, and his spirit is intact—though a tad dented. But already, his gentle personality is quacking its way to the surface (albeit softly, as only the female ducks truly quack).

He adores his pond, gliding across it with regal aplomb and dipping his beak into the water with quiet contentment. As he stands and proudly flaps his wings, we honour his wishes and promise him vaster shores await. In the meantime, he delights us all, carefully picking his favourite greens from his bowl—a simple act, yet one that speaks volumes about the joy of second chances.

Garry’s story softly speaks to the promise of second chances and the joy found in a simple bowl of water. If only all of our wants could be so easily met. Perhaps it is time we all became a bit more like a duck called Garry. And in doing so, we may just become a little more humane ourselves.