Feb 28, 2019 - A duck who couldn’t waddle in the water on its own has been gifted a wheelchair. The duck was born with a physical disability and neither waded in the water nor walked properly. Goats of Anarchy Sanctuary in Annandale, New Jersey adopted the duck named Merlin last year in November. Seeing the condition of the bird which was born with the defect, the sanctuary decided to give it a new life.
The sanctuary contacted Walkin’ Pets which customises tiny wheelchairs for animals’ requirement in Amherst in New Hampshire. While they generally make wheelchairs for cats and dogs, engineers worked specifically to help adjust the company’s mini wheelchair model for Merlin’s physique. Daily Mail quoted Mark Robinson, founder of Walkin’ Pets as saying, "I was thrilled my company was able to help a handicapped duck, our first one ever." The company founded in 2001 has made over 50,000 wheelchairs for animals.
Walkin’ Pets Social Media Coordinator Mikayla Feehan who captured the duck’s reaction on being fitted with the wheelchair said, "We took a road trip to New Jersey earlier this month to visit Goats of Anarchy, who rescue disabled animals." World’s Most Beautiful Bird Mandarin Duck Graces New York City’s Central Park (See Pictures)
She further said, "Merlin was born with an injured leg and they reached out to us to fit him with a wheelchair. We have never made one for a duck so one of our engineers adjusted a mini quad wheelchair just for him. Watching him take his first steps was really cool. Once he was all rigged up, it was truly amazing. It’s not every day you get to see animals take their first steps. The wheelchair can go into the water we would just recommend avoiding salt water to keep the wheelchair in tip-top shape."
courtesy - Latestly