Senseless violence leaves it mark on everybody. I feel so bad for the
animal & the folks who cared for him.
Community Erects Cross For Beloved Duck Found Headless
POSTED: 1:15 pm EDT May 24, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A duck that waited patiently for its mate to recover from a broken leg was found decapitated by stunned retirement community residents, who buried the bird in a grave marked with a wooden cross and flowers.
Residents found Jeckle's headless carcass Saturday at the Bell Trace retirement community.
"We're all heartbroken," said Susan Wensel, Bell Trace's administrative assistant.
Jon Vestuto, the community's assistant maintenance manager, said Jeckle was killed next to the special pen he built last month so that the duck's mate, Heckle, could recover from a broken leg.
Bell Trace resident Mary Salz believes Jeckle, who never strayed far from the pen, died trying to protect his mate. She said Heckle now seems despondent.
"She just sits there in the pen and softly quacks," Salz said.
Vestuto captured the injured Heckle last month and brought her to WildCare Inc., where a veterinarian inserted pins in her broken leg.
Vestuto moved Heckle back to WildCare Inc. on Monday. Once Heckle's leg heals, she'll be moved to a nearby farm's fenced-in duck pond.
Bell Trace residents, meanwhile, have marked Jeckle's grave near the pond with white marble chips, a white wooden cross and flowers.
"It sounds terrible to carry on like this about a duck, but we're all very sad," said resident Velma Harrison. "It's a tragic ending to what could have been a very sweet story."
Bookmarks