Two Barn Sanctuary friends brought Thor and his sister, Liz, to Barn Sanctuary in early June of 2019. The couple had taken in the ducklings the day prior when they were approached by a lady in a parking lot who asked the couple to take over their care. The ducklings were unable to walk due to what seemed to be leg deformities. If the lady couldn’t find them a home, she was going to have them euthanized. Wanting them to have the best chance at life, the couple agreed to take them and contacted us.
After the couple brought them to the sanctuary, they were immediately taken to our avian vet, Dr. Susan Orosz, PHD, DVM. She examined them both, and found that the reason for their leg issues was likely due to being kept in a small box for their first few weeks of life, unable to learn to walk or swim. Their legs simply didn’t know what to do. Dr. O recommended that they undergo physical therapy every day in order to help them increase their mobility and gain muscle memory.
Our animal care team, was in charge of making sure that every day Thor and Liz would have their legs gently exercised and get 4-6 sessions of supervised pool time—with plenty of leafy greens as a reward! As the ducklings became comfortable and confident in their swimming abilities, they became more vocal and playful. By late summer, they were splashing their caregivers and nearly flying out of their pool! With the help of their water therapy, they have both made incredible improvements in their strength and mobility.
Your sponsorship will help provide daily care, regular medical checkups, and cover any unexpected emergency care. Please sponsor Thor to provide the care he deserves!
