It all began when 12-year-old Tommy Bentsen, from Oceanside, New York, found an abandoned bird’s nest in the family backyard, close to a canal.
The nest contained eight duck eggs, and after keeping an eye on proceedings, it soon became obvious the mother duck, for whatever reason, was not coming back. They hated the thought that the babies inside the eggshells would die, so the family did some research and hoped to be able to help the baby ducks hatch.
Posted by Cindy Montigny Bentsen on Thursday, September 1, 2016
Young Tommy “ordered an incubator and began the process,” Ashley Bentsen explained, as reported by Inside Edition. “Twenty-eight days later, we successfully hatched four ducklings. Unfortunately, only one survived.”
Ashley wanted to free the baby duck in the canal out the back, and local wildlife experts advised her it was the best thing to do, but nobody asked the baby duck what she thought about that.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154501187918346&set=a.422552168345&type=3&theater
Turns out the duckling had her own ideas. She attached herself to the family dog, a 3-year-old golden retriever named Brody.
“Little to our surprise, they bonded instantly and their relationship began,” said Ashley.
Shelter Island 2015
Posted by Cindy Montigny Bentsen on Tuesday, August 18, 2015
“Maybe he realized something was wrong,” Cindy told CBS News. “He’s a good-natured dog. Now he’s taken on this mama duck persona.”
The story of the friendship between both duck and dog was widely shared, and at that time, the family had been hoping for name suggestions for the duck, as she had made herself part of their family.
“We live on a canal so we are hoping that she will make some friends,” said Ashley. “[The duckling] became so attached to our dog Brody, she keeps on returning.”
It’s certainly very pleasing that she keeps returning too! This is a happy ending for both duck and dog. May they enjoy many walks and fun times together as they embrace their feathery and furry friendship.
Watch the video below:
