Rescue & Adoptions

Past Rescues

Yvette

Yvette imprinted to the people who raised her, but was left to fend for herself when her human "family" abandoned her on a lake. Since Yvette never learned the "goose skills" her mother would have taught her, she was unable to survive on her own. Instead, she went to the only species she was accustomed to: humans. Fortunately, Yvette wandered into the yard of a woman who lived next door to one of our staff members. Yvette's fortuitous choice landed her safely at our New York Shelter.

UPDATE!
Yvette is very happy to have become a part of our family. She fell in love with sanctuary life right away - and also with a diminutive Pekin duck named Yates. Before Yates passed away in 2006, Yvette and Yates were inseparable. They spent every hour of every day together, swimming in their cool pond, eating grass and weeds, and sleeping next to each other in warm straw. After meeting Yvette, Yates quickly made her his number one priority in life. If ever he felt his lady friend might be threatened, he was right there by her side to guard her. A loyal and courageous protector no matter what the circumstances, Yates was willing to confront anyone, anytime, if he believed that they had caused her any insult or injury. In fact, during one particular mating season, he single-handedly took on two very large male geese who thought to woo Yvette. Even then, he did not balk or cower.

Of course, Yates was only a small duck and, despite his strength of will, he proved no match for the two geese. Knowing that Yates could be badly injured in a fight with the two larger birds, caregivers gently picked him up and separated both he and Yvette from the main flock. For the remainder of that mating season, Yates and Yvette lived with some of our sanctuary chickens. When mating season ended, we moved the duo back to the flock of ducks and geese, where they remained together for many happy months.

In Yates, Yvette found a loving and loyal partner. True, the two made an unlikely pair, but none who ever saw them together could deny the bond that they had. We were very worried for Yvette when Yates first passed away. But, thankfully, our fears were unfounded. Yvette did mourn deeply the loss of her partner, and perhaps she still does, but she is still enjoying life. Watching Yvette develop new friendships with the other geese at the sanctuary, we know she will be okay.