We're called to rescue throughout the year, but today we unexpectedly stumbled upon a bird-in-need who had not originally been on the schedule. Dear little Delilah had been rescued by a neighbor a week earlier from a shed on an abandoned property.

While the other ducks rescued from the mud-and-sludge-filled filth pit seemed to have been recovering well, Delilah was sadly not recovering. One look at her feet explained why. 

Delilah has pododermatitis (bumblefoot) on both feet that is so extreme it's hard to believe she can stand, much less walk.  Huge pieces of necrotic and infected tissue 1/2" thick covered the bottoms of her feet and the swelling extends from her bloody feet up to her hocks. 

Knowing foot infections like this can be life-threatening without aggressive treatment, we scheduled Delilah to stop in at Avian & Exotics of Monterey tomorrow morning. 

Our biggest fear for Delilah is that she may have osteomyelitis, in which the infection penetrates the bone and can become systemic (and fatal). 

After soaking her feet in Betadine solution and trimming away huge chunks of dried pus and necrotic tissue, we wrapped her legs and feet in antibiotic salve, administered antibiotics, and gave her lots of pain meds. 

However, we fear the infection may have spread deep into the bone on both legs. We cannot know for sure how much (if any) of the bone is destroyed with infection without X-rays and a full work-up. This is, of course, an expense we had not planned for, particularly in light of the today's $600 vet bill! But leaving Delilah to linger untreated was not an option. 

 Can you help this dear ducky with a few dollars?  Every donation, no matter how small, adds up and brings new hope to these otherwise hopeless and overlooked individuals!

You can also call in a donation directly for Delilah (on Hen Harbor's account) to Avian & Exotic Clinic of Monterey:  831 647-1147 or go to paypal.me/henharbor.  (We already have run up a huge tab at the vet clinic, so they will gladly take payments over the phone!) 

All donations are tax-deductible, and you'll receive a receipt upon donation, as well as Delilah's endless gratitude. 

Few resources exist for abandoned/abused domesticated poultry, so it falls upon smaller rescue organizations and individuals within the community to step up for our feathery friends. With your help, we can give Delilah her life back!   

We will update  this fundraiser regularly as Delilah's treatment progresses!