Mayo Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Can't believe that Zoomie, my rescue muscovy, was stolen from my garden the day before yesterday. I was at the hospital when my neighbour saw a man walk into the front garden and take her from the front door step - where she had waited for me before on the couple of occasions when I went out and didn't want her to have to wait a long time in the car. By the time the neighbour got to the front of the house, man and duck had disappeared. Her wings weren't clipped, so there's a Very faint chance that she may fly home if she has the opportunity, and isn't too far away. Just wondering, now, whether she is destined to be a pet for life for somebody else; or whether she will just be for Christmas . . . Must admit to feeling very deprived after being with her for 24hrs a day for nineteen weeks, since the RSPCA brought her to me at about six hours old. M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 That's terrible . I'm so sorry . What a nerve that man had, what on earth was he thinking ? Did the neighbour get a description? Is it worth a call to the police, even if just to alert them that someone's going around stealing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 (edited) Hello Ain't. Thank you so much for your kind words. I rang the police straight away; unfortunately it was raining and blowing and the guy had his collar up, so there was almost no useful description to give. Have to say the police, predictably, weren't wildly excited, and I wasn't very consoled when they told me that thefts like that happen a lot on farms round here at this time of year . . . (A friend had her daughter's new once-ridden pony stolen just before last Christmas, which was never found). Lots of people have stopped to chat when they've seen us in the garden ; and everyone was interested to hear her life-story ; so I'm sort-of hoping it might be someone local who realised what a good pet she'll make, and she'll fly home when she gets the opportunity : although she is so well-known, for miles around, now, that anyone local would be taking a very big risk. My mother always said that one of the very worst days of her life was the one when I left home to live in London : I'm beginning to understand how she felt!! Seems a rotten way to end Zoomie's story when she fought so very hard to stay alive in her first few weeks. Thanks again. Mx. Edited November 27, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Oh no! Hopefully as you say she may try and fly home, might be worth letting local pet shops and vets know, and write to the local paper in case someone local sees their neighbour has a new duck, or the person will read it and return her It could be that he saw her sitting there in the rain and 'rescued' her, but doesn't sound like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 How awful for you and what a horrible thing for someone to do. What about alerting your local press? I am sure they would run a story like that - especially if you live in a nice neighbour hood where things like this don't usually happen, it may also alert other animal owners that a thief is on the prowl. Putting up posters with a photo on (stolen duck!) may also catch people's eye and someone may have spotted that a neighbour had come home with a new duck recently and inform you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 How awful, we will all keep our fingers/paws/wings/fins crossed that she comes back, advertising locally sounds like a good idea, you never know, the man who took her may even bring her back and say he found her for a reward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear this. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Oh! that's such a shame - I hope you get her back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 That is terrible I really hope it was a mistake but what a strange thing to do anyway..quite a distinctive looking duck! Try to put a poster up asking if anyone has seen the duck...if they were on foot surely someone may have seen them with it..perhaps a small reward if possible? hope you find the duck again..keep us posted makes me mad indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 . Hi guys. Thank you all Very much for your kind words and good advice. Unfortunately, I have to leave, tomorrow, for my Norfolk home - more hospital stuff - but I have a friend who is coming to stay here while I'm away, just in case Zoomie gets to come home. He will prepare and put up posters offering a £100 reward, so we'll see if that pricks any consciences. No telephone line, so no internet access in Norfolk, so I will be incommunicado for a few weeks. Thanks again. Max. (I will let you know, somehow, if there is good news). . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Fingers crossed - hope you have good news soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Good luck that is a generous reward and sounds like thats all you can do, at least you have done as much as is possible...gave it your best shot! Amazing I even worry that someone will take my dog from the garden...why should we have to put up with things like this. I would love to put some chickens in my front garden as its ideal for a good scratch but its things like this that put me off. How so annoying typical it just takes one doesnt it! Hope your poster gets a response Good luck anyway indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 (edited) . Thanks Indie and Lesley, and again to you all. I'm off soon to Norfolk. Indie : to be completely truthful, I'd make the reward £1000 if I wasn't worried about looking a complete idiot. I've just taken Zoomie's cushion out of the car, which was painful; and for the last few days, being a big, butch, bearded bloke, I've surprised myself at having to fight back the tears every time my hand goes down to my knee and finds it unoccupied!! Before I go and fight the M25 and M11, I'm going to try really hard to post my first pics to a forum. Cheers. M. . This is where she spent her first week. . . This one was taken a few days before she disappeared. . Edited November 24, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 She is lovely. I really hope you get some good news soon, fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I very much hope what goes around comes around....someone must be so sad to take a duck..v strange people something greatly lacking. Fingers crossed you will get a response whilst you are away... indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 Mayo, I was really sorry to read your news, and I hope you have a happy ending soon. I hope you get something from the posters. There was some good stuff earlier in the thread which might be worth doing: write to local paper, pet shops, vets. I heartily agree with Indie's point - "Why should we have to put up with this." Hoping for a happy ending ps just as I was previewing this your pictures decided to load - what a gorgous gal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 . Hi Chucky. Thanks so much for your kind thoughts. Pleased you liked the pics. Ironic that I only got round to learning how to add pics after she disappeared. I've tried every trick in the book, including pictures round the village, and a £100 reward. Seems unlikely to have been a local thief, 'cos she is so distinctive that word would have got round very quickly if she was spotted. Should be at hospital in Norfolk today; but have hated leaving here just in case she came back - although I have a friend staying just in case. After a week, it's beginning to look very unlikely. Do wish the wind would stop : it keeps making noises like a duck's beak tapping on the french windows, 'cos now she's too big for the cat-flap!! If there are any duckie omleteers near Guildford or King's Lynn; have a look at my post in the 'Free to a good home' section. There may be stuff which you could use. Thanks again to you all. Max. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Sorry to read this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 maybe there's a chance that he might have thought she was a wild duck and was 'rescuing' her? have you rung the local rspca to see if anyone has brought a duck in or go to your local park in case he's left her there? put a notice in your local paper asking him to get in touch, he may not have realised she was a pet. to be honest, i think if most people saw a duck sitting on someone's doorstep, they wouldn't automatically think 'oh it must be their pet'. They might think she was sheltering or been blown off course etc Do you have a local bird sanctuary he may have taken her to? I think there are far more nice people out there than not so I hope you find her xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 . Hi Eg. Thanks for your kind words. Poet : Not much doubt, I'm afraid, that she could have been mistaken for a wild one. She was sitting in her wicker dog basket in the front-door-porch : and, to clinch it, she was wearing a cat collar with her name and my mobile and home telephone numbers engraved on a, very obvious, silver tag. I'm increasingly convinced it was somebody, out of the dozens who have stopped when they've seen us together, to ask about her ; and then realised how tame and responsive she is, and what a wonderful pet she would make. Thanks for your kind words too. Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Max, I am so sorry to hear this. Thinking of you at this difficult time. I really hope that you get some good news about Zoomie soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
