Fowl Play Prompts Unusual Court Order

April 11, 2008

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) -- A court has issued what could be at least a local first: an order of protection for a duck. A Suffolk County judge approved the measure Thursday, telling a man accused of shooting a family's pet duck to stay away from the bird and her owners.

Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Chief Roy Gross says he can't recall a previous court case involving cruelty to a duck.

Owner Janet Lippincott says a group of young people bounded over her backyard fence and swarmed the yellow-billed Peking duck with pellet guns on March 17. The bird, named Circles, has recovered after a bullet pierced her voice box.

The 21-year-old suspect pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony animal cruelty charges.

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Tags: strange but true, birds

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131 comments found.

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Patricia C. (lovepuppy227)
1 week ago

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A duck is just like any other pet. If it was in someone's yard, he shouldn't have shot it. It is much different shooting a domestic animal than a wild one.

Roger C. (rcjr710)
2 weeks ago

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we need to educate kids now that animals do feel pain, and its not funny or cool what they are doing.

Kimberly B. (Kad46)
2 weeks ago

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what sick people that is in our world

parker e. (feminist)
2 weeks ago

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youth today

Katie H. (katieandmolly)
2 weeks ago

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Some people are just sick... seriously...

roberta m. (meanwife)
3 weeks ago

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the duck was mindind his own business, as the hoodlums should have been doing. this could have all been avoided if the parents of the kids would have bopped them a good one when they were young and told them thats not ok to behave that way

Claudia (HSSAZ)
3 weeks ago

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Glad the duck is doing ok.

samsamjr2
3 weeks ago

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Its sad that kids are doing it.

alexis93
3 weeks ago

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great decision

Dreamwisher
3 weeks ago

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Kids and young adults have to respect for other peoples things. If they shot a duck and you imagine some of the other things they might be doing. Glad the duck is ok.

Carly T. (Carly67)
3 weeks ago

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I think someone should chase him around and shoot pellets at these people. These people have some nerve going into someone else's yard to shoot their pets. No one's pets are safe anymore!

Laurie M. (momofmindy)
3 weeks ago

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It is sad to think some "kids" get their thrills via harm to a defenseless little thing.

clslay
3 weeks ago

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Another example of kids , even at 21 not being taught to respect life in any form. Its about time the laws started protecting animals. I hope as stated in a prior comment the judge tosses the book at them. Its just sick of kids to think that is "fun???"
I say put the kid in community service cleaning local zoo cages for a year of so. Also assisting doing rescue work. Who knows maybe it could help turn him around and he could make a great vet? One never knows? I sure hope the duck heals well.

Fooj
3 weeks ago

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Mean kids as usual. Isn't that always the case?

Janet V. (janeyv)
3 weeks ago

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I hope they throw the book at them for what they did to the duck. Seems like more and more people are doing evil things everyday to animals and humans too.

kelly D. (kelly13603)
3 weeks ago

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Why would the kids shoot a duck?

frzframe
4 weeks ago

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Poor duck. Why must people be so cruel?

michele t. (pemtrek2)
4 weeks ago

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way too much violence in the world that a kid has to shot a duck. can the kid be shot with a pellet gun let him see how it feels

Angel L. (Etain)
4 weeks ago

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What a distrurbed guy... and how can they let him plead not guilty when he was caught doing it.. not just shooting the dog, but trespassing to do it!!!

D. Rene (mooredr3)
4 weeks ago

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This is a guy that knows better. He has some major issues. Also, good for the judge.

kjungb
1 month ago

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good for the judge. i don't understand the legal system. why can this guy plead not guilty when he was caught doing it red handed? this crazy world. i hope the duck and its family will be safe from the idiots who did that.

Carryl D. (carryld)
1 month ago

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I heard this on the news when it first happened. I felt sorry and happy at the same time. Sorry that the duck and his family went through all that they did, but happy that the duck made history. This is Judge should be the Judge for all animal abuse cases.

wendy T. (breeze35)
1 month ago

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so sad

Judi M. (JMeenen)
1 month ago

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I am glad the duck survived!Why the H-LL would someone shoot a Duck????

parker e. (feminist)
1 month ago

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stupid "sport"

marlyn p. (skyyma2)
1 month ago

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A PFA order for a duck. And why didn't these people get MORE of a punishment to teach them that abuse of any kind is not tolerated??? I hope this will be enforced for the duck's sake.

selena s. (sstarr79)
1 month ago

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I agree, the protective order is a start and it's wonderful to see a Judge take the incident seriously enough to order it, however it is a slap on the wrist for the little twit that shot it. What happens to the other animals that are potential future victims of this kid. If he thinks it was fun to shoot a duck, what else will this freak consider sport?

Stephanie G. (StevieinBacliff)
1 month ago

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Poor little Duck!!

Peggy (Peg123)
1 month ago

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I have a ZERO tolerance for people who abuse animals. I say make him work at an animal shelter and see the kind of problems his type causes. He's 21 years old, it's only a matter of time before he hurts a person, not that there's a big difference to me. Life is life and pain is pain, no matter animal or human.

Christine (kikgirl2)
1 month ago

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Poor duck, I hate people like this. These are the losers that will have domestic abuse calls against them to 911 in the future....

jackie B. (Selene1090)
1 month ago

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I don't know why this should suprize anyone this is what should happen that person is clearly a threat and the pet and person should have pertecktion.

kittypassion
1 month ago

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Kudos to the Suffolk County judge. All creatures are precious and any harm to any of them should be animal cruelty.

terrae01
1 month ago

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Why the heck would you do that???

bell o. (lala14)
1 month ago

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what mean kids good job judge and it is not silly poor duck minding it own business in his or hers own yard .whats wrong with these people

Karen A. (kehala)
1 month ago

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Hopping over the fence and shooting the duck with a pellet gun is premeditated. It should count as cruelty to animals. Whether the young person thought this through or just went with the group mentalitiy - all of the individuals should be held accountable for their actions.

ourstaff
1 month ago

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The article didn't say if the idiots had filmed the attack. I have been seeing reports about how videos of senseless attacks are beginning to appear on the net. That would have been some kind of a reason. It would still be stupid and cruel, but at least it would be an answer to why they did it.

madenthe80s
1 month ago

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I wouldn't be surprised if it is on youtube somewhere.

babygirl o. (babygirl121764)
1 month ago

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I know it's wrong and 2 wrongs don't make a right but if we could do half the stuff cruel to people as they do to animals maybe they'd realize they can't be so cruel.........nah whom I kidding they still would be cause they are sick people who don't care.

Ashley W. (awhite1020)
1 month ago

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People are so sick and so cruel to animals. I will never understand it.

Laurie F. (sallygrace)
1 month ago

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Kudos to the judge! Shame on the shooter and his friends! I'm glad the duck is going to be okay.

Ellen K. (EllenK115)
1 month ago

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21 years old - and running around with a pellet gun shooting at a duck in it's own yard... that is pretty sad. Obviously the kid does not have much of a life... Glad the duck is OK -- and it certainly sounds silly -- an order of protection -- but it's necessary...

gail (adolphe)
1 month ago

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This is cruelty and hopefully these young people will have consequences to pay.

sierra w. (mountainbreeze)
1 month ago

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great decision

Rosemaryh
1 month ago

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I think it's a great decision on the part of the Court. A pet is a pet whether it's a dog, cat, bird or duck. We love our pets and they love us back. They deserve all the protection we can give them.

Jaime S. (4thefur)
1 month ago

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I can't stand hearing these stories and not being able to kick these people's ass for doing these horrible crimes. Only God can send their ass to hell, I hope he does so!

Elisha C. (constable73)
1 month ago

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I believe this. You could not imagine what the guys I work with will shoot. I have to beg them please to understand that these are someones pets. People get gun happy and think they can shoot anything.

ourstaff
1 month ago

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If they "have to" shot something why can't they go a paint ball range and shoot each other?

Jessica T. (beforethedawn)
1 month ago

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It sickens me to know there are jerks like this wandering the streets. I just don't understand how anyone can hurt any pet.

madenthe80s
1 month ago

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I have never been able to figure out why terrorizing something that can't fight back could possibly be fun . . .

jessiesabastian
1 month ago

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those turds!

Janie P. (DaisyBuddysmom)
1 month ago

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What a bunch of jerks. They had to know this duck was someones pet.

E J. (maisy126)
1 month ago

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Awww, poor Circles, hope they stay away from her.

Laura D. (Djitomate)
1 month ago

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Sounds like animal cruelty. I am glad there is a protection in place for the animal. I hope these maniacs' names are made public to the community and that the 21 year old faces as stiff a penalty as possible- although whatever that is won't be enough.

mARY ANN M. (foxflower)
1 month ago

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Cruelty to animals and how about hunting out of season and without a license. Did they think this was a wild duck?

I don't believe children of any age should have pellet guns and I don't believe anyone should have a gun unless they live in a rural area and need it to protect herds from wild dog packs or like.

If these were minors, any requirements put on the parents relative mutual counseling/education including both parents and child? Sometimes this type of behavior is the result of parental modeling although sometimes not. But parent/child counseling combined ensures the kid gets the message if the parent does not need it.

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Fowl Play Prompts Unusual Court Order

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