Lots of us have causes that we feel strongly about – myself included. Despite the fact that it’s a pain in the butt and requires me to make a special trip to the recycling center, I sort out the recyclables and take them down to the center to try and reduce any excess waste from my household. Yeah, it’s a pain in my butt, but it also makes me feel like I’m doing something that makes the planet a little bit better.
Along with the recycling, I’ve always tried to make it a habit to donate to worthy causes as much as I can. One of those causes happens to be the Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary. Over the past couple years, I’ve watched as the sanctuary rescued unwanted or injured ducks and took them back to their sanctuary that provides a healthy and happy living space for these birds to live out their lives.
Following the Sanctuary on Facebook meant that I kept up with a lot of their news. I watched as they rescued abandoned ducks that people had kept as pets until they tired of them and left them in the wild to fend for themselves. I watched as they took in injured wild ducks and geese. They post quite a few of their stories, with photos, of the feathered friends that they rescued.
That’s why I felt so honored to be able to head up to Michigan and capture some of the good that they’ve done. When Matthew and Theresa bought their gorgeous property, they never had imagined it turning into a duck sanctuary. When someone asked them to take a couple ducks on their new property, they figured they had enough room and said “yes”. Falling in love with their new feathered friends, they found themselves saying “yes” more and more often, and it has led to a place that ducks probably consider heaven-on-Earth.
The property is over 5 acres in size, and it includes a giant, bird-friendly pond of about an acre in size. Wanting the ducks to have a nice, safe place to play, Theresa and Matthew built a couple man-made islands. The property has a safe indoor area, and for the ducks who want to bathe and play, they have a couple tiny portable pools that can be filled with fresh water. There is always food available, and believe me, the ducks and geese take advantage of it!
All of the ducks are well cared for, safe on the property, and While some of the birds can fly, most stay on the property day-in and day-out because it just doesn’t get any better. Some of the ducks will come when called, and many of them treat Theresa and Matthew’s presence as a comforting one. The local Kroger grocery store helps out with fresh food donations for the ducks, and they’re all fed a balanced diet for their health.
Basically, the Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary is everything a duck or goose could want, and I’m amazed by Theresa and Matthew’s dedication to keeping their feathered friends healthy – and rescuing any birds who are in need. Just check out some of these photos from their beautiful sanctuary:
Of course, like any non-profit that’s helping make the world a better place, the Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary could always use your help as well. They have a wishlist for requested items if you live in the area, or you can always make a monetary donation to help with vet bills from the injured ducks they take in or other expenses as well. If nothing else, feel free to follow them on Facebook to keep up with what they’re doing.
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