April 1, 2024
Ryan Belmore
Erna is the last of West Place Animal Sanctuary’s original rescues from 2007
Staff and volunteers at West Place Animal Sanctuary helped Erna, a Crested Pekin Duck rescued in 2007, celebrate her 17th birthday. Crested Pekins have an average lifespan of eight to twelve years. Erna is the last of West Place’s original farm animal rescues from 2007, when the non-profit organization was established.
One of the sanctuary’s most beloved rescue animals, Erna is West Place’s busiest “foster mom” during the spring and summer months. She has helped raise hundreds of baby birds, including ducklings, goslings, chicks, poults, and cygnets. Her incredible life and longevity exemplify what farm animals are capable of when given proper care, nutrition, and love.
“Since starting West Place in 2007, there hasn’t been a day without Erna,” says Wendy Taylor, founder and executive director of West Place Animal Sanctuary. “She is an incredibly special duck, and her motherly instincts have helped us save lives and raise orphaned birds at the sanctuary.”
Erna’s birthday celebration included special artwork and decorations, singing, and a birthday cake topped with blueberries—her favorite treat. Staff and volunteers recounted memories of Erna, read poetry, and took photos with her. The birthday celebration was streamed live on social media, and West Place’s followers joined the special occasion. A fully produced video will be available in April.
“This is a major milestone for Erna,” Taylor notes. “For various reasons, farm animals do not often make it to old age. She has given the humans and the animals of West Place so much and in turn, West Place has given Erna the greatest gift of all – the opportunity to grow old.”
West Place provides a permanent home and lifelong care to farm animals rescued from abuse, neglect, and cruelty situations. The sanctuary allows farm animals to live naturally in peace and tranquility, and recover from their physical, mental, and emotional trauma. West Place supports dozens of species of animals through all of life’s stages.
Taylor reminds the community that caring for any animal is a lifelong commitment. She urges people to stop and think about the time, resources, and companionship animals require to live humanely alongside humans. “Many people still bring home rabbits, chicks, and ducklings around Easter,” Taylor says, “only to lose interest or discover they are not low-maintenance animals. As Erna shows us, bringing home a duckling might require a commitment of two decades.” Taylor adds, “Shelters and sanctuaries are not dumping grounds for animals purchased on impulse.”
Although Erna’s birthday celebration occurred on Easter Sunday, her official birthday is April 1, coinciding with 401Gives, the United Way of Rhode Island’s statewide giving day. Despite serving every town in Rhode Island and much of southern New England, West Place does not receive any annual funding from Federal, state, or municipal governments for their farm animal rescue work. The organization relies on the community’s generosity to care for nearly 100 farm animal rescues, like Erna.
West Place encourages donations in honor of Erna’s 17th birthday to be made through their 401Gives donation page at www.westplace.org/401gives. Merchandise featuring Erna’s Rhode Island driver’s license, a volunteer-created design, can be purchased at www.westplace.org/shop.
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