Georgetown, Texas – Several Georgetown organizations and businesses are coming together to help a duck in need. Polly, an adult female Pekin duck missing half of her bill, was found and brought to All Things Wild Rehabilitation Center in Georgetown, TX. Southwestern University’s Makerspace 3D Print Studio has offered to design and print a 3D replica of Polly’s bill, and Wag Heaven Pet Supplies and Self-Serve Dog Wash in Georgetown is holding a fundraiser to help raise money for the process, selling Plush Duck dog toys.
Helen Laughlin, President of All Things Wild Rehabilitation, said it’s unknown how Polly lost her bill, possibly by a predator. “But Polly remains a happy, friendly duck” describes Laughlin. “She quacks constantly, greeting staff when they arrive in the morning and wandering about the center quacking frequently.”
Laughlin spoke with Dr. Laura Hobgood, co-chair of the Environmental Studies program at Southwestern University. Hobgood focuses on the environmental history of humans and dogs and is the dog rescue coordinator for Georgetown Animal Outreach. When she heard about Polly’s injury, she reached out to the University’s 3D print studio about the possibility of creating a prosthetic bill.
Both Laughlin and Hobgood are longtime friends of Wag Heaven Pet Supplies and Self-Serve Dog Wash’s owners and husbands Jusak Yang Bernhard and Jeff Manley. “When we learned about Polly’s duck bill project we eagerly offered to help with fundraising efforts” explains Manley.
Wag Heaven is holding a Toy Drive Fundraiser, with the help of Pet Lou Toys, selling “Dottie the Duck” plush dog toys for $25.00 a piece, with proceeds donated to All Things Wild. The toys are available in-store and on the store’s website, wagheaven.com
Each bright yellow toy with a duck-sounding squeaker includes a postcard with a greeting from Polly and a pledge of support of donations collected for medical care and husbandry for Polly and all orphaned and injured ducks brought to All Things Wild this year. Georgetown local artist and animator Morgan Smith illustrated the adorable greeting card cover, and Roberts Printing of Georgetown donated the printing and supplies for the card.
White Pekin ducks are a US domestic breed, that originated in China and are raised for their eggs and meat, as well as barnyard pets. The famous Donald Duck is a Pekin duck, as well as the duck in the AFLAC commercials. Being aquatic birds, ducks are known for their unique bills, which are used for a variety of purposes, such as feeding, grooming, communication, nest building, and courtship.
While the loss of Polly’s bill makes it harder for her to eat, she manages to suck up her food. Her main disability is grooming herself, so she frequently goes for a swim in the pelican pool, along with All Things Wild’s pelican Boudreaux, where she dips her entire body in the water. And she loves to be petted, especially on her back because she can’t be groomed there.
All Things Wild Rehabilitation rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife and releases them back into the wild. Their medical team did some research and learned that a duckbill may be able to grow back if more than one-third of the bill remains. “We are noticing some signs of re-growth,” said Laughlin, “but the 3D bill will help Polly with daily functions now.”
To donate: “Dottie the Duck” plush dog toys for $25.00 a piece, with proceeds donated to All Things Wild.
The toys are available in-store and on the store’s website, wagheaven.com
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