County Animal Services rescues nearly 500 ducks from a home in Anza

UPDATE 4/15

SAN JACINTO, Calif. (KESQ) - Adopters from across Riverside County came to the San Jacinto Animal Campus for the chance to adopt recently rescued ducks.

The ducks were rescued from a home in Anza, after officials say an animal sanctuary got out of control, resulting in overcrowding and poor living conditions for the ducks.

As of Wednesday, officials say over 300 ducks were adopted from the shelter by rescues, ranchers, and local families.

Now, they anticipate more ducks could be rescued as they continue to investigate the property.

Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

4/14

Riverside, Calif. (KESQ) – 480 ducks will be up for adoption Wednesday at the San Jacinto Animal Campus after a property owner surrendered them to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

The county is asking all interested adoptees to check out the ducks at 11 a.m. at 581 S Grand Ave, San Jacinto, CA 92582.

The property owner was located in an unincorporated part of the county, but it wasn't revealed where exactly. According to the agency, animal control officers inspected the property leading up to the large-scale operation as part of an ongoing investigation.

The relinquishment is the result of overcrowding at the property, and the property owner is currently cooperating with RCDAS to coordinate placement of the animals.

As part of the investigation into the welfare of additional waterfowl, the department is investigating the scale of overcrowding on the property.

“This large-scale operation requires intense coordination across our department, and our main priority is the safe transport and intake of these animals today,” said RCDAS Assistant Director Dr. Kimberly Youngberg. “We cannot provide long-term shelter care for this number of animals so it’s important we work quickly to find placement with rescues, adopters and organizations willing to assist this week.”  

RCDAS officials said there were made aware of the property owner’s intent to maintain an animal sanctuary for the birds, but recent investigations revealed the need for action to remove the animals from the property due to improper husbandry.

Prior to today’s operation, RCDAS coordinated with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to test a sample of the animals for zoonotic infectious diseases which were all negative results. Limited assessments show the animals did not receive adequate caretaking. 

“Overcrowding can contribute to stress and decreased immune function,” said RCDAS Chief Veterinarian Dr. Itzel Vizcarra. “Inadequate nutrition, particularly vitamin A deficiency, can impair the lining of the digestive tract, predisposing birds to inflammation and secondary illness.” 

These conditions are commonly seen in birds kept in overcrowded or under-sourced environments. The primary recommendation for recovery and prevention is improved caretaking, including appropriate stocking density, sanitation practices and a balanced nutritionally complete diet. 

Rescue organizations and individuals interested in adopting can contact the department by emailing shelterinfo@rivco.org. Animals are available on a first-come, first-served basis and all adoption fees are waived.

Appropriate carriers are required for transport from the shelter and must be supplied by the adopters or rescues. Adopters must check with their city or local jurisdiction regarding ordinance restrictions on the number of waterfowl permitted per household as regulations vary by location.