Franklin resident, Lesli Beckwith shops on a regular basis in the Westhaven community. During a routine trip to the grocery store she noticed nine domestic ducks behind the Westhaven fire station that needed a new home.
Beckwith first began rescuing ducks six years ago when she found a wild Mallard in distress. Not wanting to leave the duck, she took action.
“My first unplanned rescue was approximately six years ago at a public pond when I happened to see a wild mallard duck with her bill attached to her wing by a fish hook. She was flailing around in the pond about to drown from exhaustion. Myself, along with some neighbors, fished her out of the water with a long tree branch, removed the hook, and miraculously she was okay. It was the euphoria from the experience of saving that duck’s life which lead to additional subsequent rescues. I have since done volunteer work for an amazing rescue in North Carolina called Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. The director, Jennifer Gordon, has been my inspiration” says Beckwith.
Friday afternoon, Beckwith along with Rachel Rogers, her three school age sons, Chelsea Bordelon and Paddle Dog Adventures (who not only supplied kayaks for the rescue but took part in the event) successfully rescued all nine ducks. The ducks were taken to IT’S A ZOO farm animal sanctuary in Westmoreland Tennessee which will be the duck’s permanent residence.
Beckwith says most are unaware of the dangers that public lakes and ponds are to domestic and wild ducks.
“A lot of people carelessly leave fishing line, hooks and lures near the shoreline and waterfowl often get tangled in it which either ends up wrapped around their ankles cutting off circulation and ultimately losing a foot or sometimes even swallowing hooks and lures,” says Beckwith.
She continued by saying, “Both are potential death sentences if no one comes to their aid. Additionally, many people tend to feed both domestic and wild ducks bread. This is the worst thing they can do. It can cause fatal metabolic bone disease, as well as a condition known as angel wing. If you want to feed the waterfowl as public ponds and lakes some treats, it is best to feed either cat kibble (it floats!), chopped tomatoes, watermelon, romaine lettuce, kale, frozen peas, or cracked corn from a feed store.”
heads up -As much as I hate to call people out, after much thought I have to on this one. I don’t know this woman, Angela Brown with “it’s a zoo”, personally but I’m not sure if she even lives in Westmoreland. She claims to have a “zoo rescue” here in Westmoreland and has been asking people on other FB sites for donations. She is claiming they’re tax deductible even though she is not a 501(c)(3). She also does not have any permits or licenses. She has “rescued” several baby wildlife animals and they died in her care.
I’m telling you this because your article used her place as a legit sanctuary or rescue and it’s not. On her FB page the animals live in dirty and sad condition. She needs to be investigated but no one knows where she is.
Yes the so called farm is d disgusting. It’s a hoardingg facility of inadequit cages, room, filth, these ducks now live in weeds with a tiny , not even the big one ,baby swimming pool. Look is muddy, no room for the ,I think it was six ducks in the photo I saw , crammed in a tiny pool of mud . Ducks shown walking in weeds and mud covered in mud themselves . You sent these ducks to hell