Smart Animals
16 | May• 2019
You could earn cash by telling us
about the antics of unique pets or
wildlife. Turn to page 5 for details
on how to contribute.large property and their drake had
been killed when a fox got into the
pen. Mum agreed as she understood
that Mrs Duck was very frustrated.
A few days later, the beaming
farmer was on our doorstep with
a huge tray of fillet steak asking to
speak to our mother. “Your drake
had only been in the pen a couple ofDaring Duck
DON ANSON
In the 1970s, my family
acquired Mrs Duck as
a pet. Mrs Duck was
actually a drake but the
name stuck. He would
spend hours ‘fighting’
his own reflection –
seen in the wide chrome
bumper bar and hubcaps
of our Holden Kingswood.
If our dog (ironically called
Dog) happened to be wandering
past, the duck would attack him.
Mrs Duck would ride around the
backyard on the dog’s back in a fury
of honking and yelping, biting poor
old Dog on the back of the head as
he flapped his wings.
Dog was either too frightened,
too good-natured or enjoyed
the attention because he never
retaliated. Much to our amusement,
Dog would tear around the yard with
Mrs Duck perched on his back.
This went on for two years, until a
neighbour politely asked if we would
like to give Mrs Duck to one of her
friends, a farmer. They lived on a
Fearless birds that turn into instant heroes to save the day