Barney the duck doing well in new home
Lap duck: Barney, who was found injured at Lake Park in September 2014, has became a lap duck and enjoys spending time just sitting with his new owner Kathy Milligan. Photo contributed to The Beacon
COSHOCTON – Barney the duck had a rough 2014, but he is now doing well and enjoying his new home with Kathy Milligan.
Best friends: Willie and Barney have quickly become the best of friends at their new home with owner Kathy Milligan. Photo contributed to The Beacon
The Muscovy Duck used to reside at Lake Park, but in early September 2014 he was found with three arrows in him and his companion Betty was later found deceased. Milligan decided to take Barney under her wing and pay for his care out of her own pocket and through the help of donations from the community.
“He had quite a few infections and did quite a few rounds of antibiotics,” she said. “He’s healed now and walks very well. You can’t even tell he had a broken leg (from when he was injured at the park).”
Milligan intended to find him a safe place to live, but when she couldn’t she decided to keep him and get him a friend named Willie, who also is a Muscovy Duck.
“I thought it would help perk him up,” she said. “At first he still seemed like he was in a depressed state. They became friends after about a month, but he still wasn’t quite himself. Then one day I went to visit him and he was perked up and talking to me.”
Barney and Willie act almost like dogs.
“They follow me everywhere,” Milligan said. “Barney is very happy now, but he had to earn my trust. I think he finally realized he can trust me and that he’s in a safe place.”
Barney and Willie have their own house outside and a penned in area, but Milligan lets them out to walk around with her.
“Wherever I go Barney is right there staring at me,” she said. “He’s even turned into a lap duck. It’s really cute. We have lap time all the time. He loves it. He just lays on my lap and is just really happy and content.”
Milligan isn’t sure how old Barney is but said Willie is about 2 ½ and the pair have become best friends and enjoy hanging out together.
“You could tell Barney had been somebody’s pet, but Willie came from a breeder and was just running around wild,” she said. “Willie doesn’t really like to be petted so I’m trying to work with him so he’s easier to handle.”
Milligan is pretty sure Barney knows she saved him.
“He’s very attached to me,” she said. “They are actually both really sweet and like having dogs.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places
