Iraq War Veteran Cited For Owning 14 Therapeutic Pet Ducks

An Army veteran who was wounded during the Iraq War is worried a citation will result in him losing his 14 pet ducks, which he says are therapeutic and contained in a penned-in area in his backyard. In addition, he has also provided the ducks with a kiddie pools so they can swim.

Darin Welker, of West Lafayette, Ohio was cited with a minor misdemeanor on June 23rd for having the ducks in his own yard. He is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing Wednesday and could face a $150 fine, according to KOMO News.

The 36-year-old vet is afraid he won’t be permitted to keep the ducks, which he says help him with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and keep him more active.

Welker lives about 80 miles east of Columbus, an area which banned residents from keeping fowl and other farm animals in 2010.

Welker has had the ducks since March. According to Welker, they motivate him to get out of the house so he can feed and clean up after them.

“They’re quite a relaxing animal, and they help comfort me in different situations,” Welker said while holding one duck like a baby and stroking its neck. “(Watching them) keeps you entertained for hours at a time.”

According to KOMO, Welker served a year in Iraq with the Army National Guard in 2005 and said he came home with a major back injury that required surgery in 2012.

The Department of Veterans Affairs paid for his back surgery but declined to pay for physical therapy which was recommended by his surgeon. In addition, they did not provide him with counseling.

Welker explained that’s partly why he has come to rely on the ducks.

Welker added that he plans to tell the judge how much the ducks have helped him and he has a letter from the VA’s mental health department recommending he be allowed to keep them.

We are all ducks now. Free the ducks!

H/T: Geeky @ComgenKDT with thanks.

Image: AP

By: Anomaly100