Disabled Duck, Merlin, Finally Takes His First Steps Using A Tiny Wheelchair

Domestic duck, Merlin, might have been born with an injured left leg - but he isn't letting that hold him back. He's now whizzing (or waddling) around the animal sanctuary where he lives thanks to a tailor-made wheelchair.

Goats of Anarchy Sanctuary in New Jersey, USA, adopted Merlin in November 2018, who, at the time, was unfortunately unable to walk due to a birth defect in his left leg.

The smart sanctuary contacted Walkin' Pets, a business which designs wheelchairs for and then fits disabled pets with their nifty wheels, to see if there was anything they could do for the little duck.

Walkin' Pets' Engineers worked tirelessly to meet their unique brief and modify the company's mini wheelchair model, usually used for cats and dogs, to accommodate Merlin's quacking physique.

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Walkin' Pets founder, Mark Robinson said how happy he was to be able to help: "I was thrilled my company was able to help a handicapped duck, our first one ever."

Little duck, Merlin, was fitted with his new wheels earlier this month and Walkin' Pets Social Media Coordinator, Mikayla Feehan, caught his shaky first steps on camera.

Mikayla explained: "We took a road trip to New Jersey earlier this month to visit Goats of Anarchy, who rescue disabled animals.

"Merlin was born with an injured leg and they reached out to us to fit him with a wheelchair.

"We have never made one for a duck so one of our engineers adjusted a mini quad wheelchair just for him.

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"Watching him take his first steps was really cool. Once he was all rigged up, it was truly amazing. It's not every day you get to see animals take their first steps.

"The wheelchair can go into water we would just recommend avoiding salt water to keep the wheelchair in tip top shape." No trips to the beach for Merlin, then.

Since it launched in 2001, the wheelchair provider has designed and created more than 50,000 wheelchairs for disabled pets in the US and all over the world.

"To see Merlin taking his first steps in that wheelchair really warmed my heart," said Mikayla.

We couldn't agree more.

Topics: Life News, Real

Amelia Jones

Amelia is a freelance journalist and editor specialising in beauty, health, fitness and lifestyle. She has previously worked for titles including Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, Red and the Mail on Sunday.

@ameliajeanjones