Almost 500 ducks are on the hunt for new homes after the owner of a struggling sanctuary in Southern California handed them over, facing allegations of overcrowding and inadequate care. Local animal advocates express that the situation is more severe than many might realize, suggesting that authorities should have intervened sooner.
The Riverside County Animal Services is currently tasked with the rehoming of around 480 ducks surrendered by Howard Berkowitz, who established the Anza Duck Sanctuary. Reports indicated that the sanctuary was severely overcrowded.
“While we understood the owner’s intention to run a sanctuary for birds, a recent investigation highlighted the urgent need to remove the animals due to inappropriate care practices,” the department stated.
Authorities noted that conditions had worsened to a point where the ducks were not receiving adequate attention, necessitating urgent efforts to find new homes for them.
As the county rushed to manage the ducks, criticisms arose on social media, with activists claiming that warning signs were repeatedly overlooked.
The Shore Sanctuary criticized the circumstances in a Facebook video, asserting they had repeatedly raised concerns about Berkowitz’s management.
“What was marketed as a ‘sanctuary’ was actually a scene of prolonged neglect and suffering,” they mentioned in a post. The organization argued that despite ongoing donations, conditions continued to deteriorate, leading to this mass surrender.
A California animal rescue organization managed to adopt 11 ducks yesterday.
Officials are coordinating care at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where animals will be available for adoption soon.
Reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly critical, with many blaming the sanctuary’s operators for losing control. Concerns have been raised regarding overcrowding, improper breeding practices, and reliance on public funding without adequate facilities.
One commenter pointed out, “This is really sad; we were led to believe this was a good place for the ducks,” mentioning they had donated to the sanctuary.
Officials confirmed that the ducks were taken during an investigation into previously reported issues at the property.
On a more positive note, tests revealed no infectious diseases among the ducks, alleviating concerns about potential outbreaks.
Berkowitz still reportedly has around 500 ducks. He mentioned to LAist that an online incident prompted him to close the sanctuary, indicating plans to relocate to Northern California.
He’s currently looking to secure “160 acres” to accommodate the remaining birds.
Meanwhile, the rescued ducks are now at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where officials are offering free adoptions in a race against time to find them homes.
However, with hundreds of ducks still needing placements, animal rights groups warn this issue is far from resolved.
The Coastal Conservancy remarked, “This is not a rescue,” following the private adoption of several birds from the site in previous years. “This is not a sanctuary. Howard Berkowitz must be held accountable for the thousands of lives he has jeopardized. We are also disappointed in Riverside Animal Control’s handling of this seizure.”
Efforts to get comments from county officials continue.
