National Geographic Kids USA - March 2017

Koalas

SYDNEY,

AUSTRALIA

Dog

SPRING LAKE,

MICHIGAN

Ducklings

CHARLOTTETOWN,

CANADA

DOG WEARS BRACES

POLICE OFFICERS HELP

LUCY THE DUCK AND HER

FAMILY CROSS THE STREET.

DUCKLINGS

BRACES

DAVID GRAY / REUTERS (KOALA, BIG PICTURE); TOBY ZERNA / NEWSPIX (KOALA INSETS, ALL); MOLLY MOORE(WESLEY); ALPTRAUM / DREAMSTIME (DUCKLING); HEATHER GINGER WARREN (LUCY AND DUCKLINGS)

Charlottetown, Canada

Lucy is one lucky duck. Every spring she and her recently hatched ducklings get a

police escort from a local garden center to a marshland across the street.

For the past several years Lucy has laid her eggs among some potted plants at

the same store. The store keeps Lucy safe by blocking off the area and putting up

a sign asking customers to keep away. “She’s taken care of in there,” employee

Heather Warren says. “I think that’s why she returns every year.”

After her ducklings hatch, Lucy’s ready to get to the marsh. But first she needs

to weave through a crowded parking lot and across a four-lane road. When store

employees see that she’s on the move, they call the Charlottetown police depart-

ment to help Lucy cross the busy lot and intersection.

Police Chief Gary McGuigan says that motorists are fine with stopping to let

the local celebrities waddle by. “Nobody minds taking a few minutes out of their

day to let them pass,” he says. “People think it’s funny.” You could say that Lucy

quacks them up. —Sara Schwartz

Spring Lake, Michigan

Brace yourself—Wesley the golden retriever’s grin is a little bit

different. That’s because he has, well, braces.

As Wesley’s adult teeth began to grow in, the dog devel-

oped an underbite, meaning his bottom teeth stuck out in

front of his top teeth. Wesley’s bite was so bad that he

couldn’t close his mouth, making it difficult to eat.

Good thing Molly Moore, Wesley’s owner, works at Harbor-

front Hospital for Animals, where her father, Jim Moore, is a

veterinarian. He specializes in dentistry and decided braces

were the best option for the pup.

After the procedure, Wesley hardly seemed to notice the

mouth metal, even during dinnertime. “Wesley loves to eat

now,” his owner says. “It’s his favorite activity.” Best of all,

because the braces are now off, the pup will get to show his pearly

whites as the ring bearer in Molly Moore’s wedding. Now that’s

something to smile about. —Allyson Shaw

DUCKLINGS GET POLICE ESCORT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS 13

make way

for

ducklings!

cutest.

brace

face.

ever.