Ohio Veteran Fights City Hall to Keep His Therapy Ducks
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Darin Welker, an Iraq veteran, came home suffering the ravages of war. He had a back injury and PTSD. The folks inWest Lafayette, Ohio weren’t particularly grateful, however, as evidenced by the following story.
From TheWeek:
After serving in Iraq, Army National Guard veteran Darin Welker came home to West Lafayette, Ohio with a back injury and PTSD. He underwent surgery in 2012, but the physical therapy recommended by his surgeon was not approved by the VA. Willing to give anything a try, Welker turned to ducks for both physical and mental therapy, and to his surprise, it worked.
Today, Welker owns 14 ducks, and has been cited with a minor misdemeanor; in 2010, a law was adopted that states no chickens, turkeys, ducks, or live poultry can live in his village. Welker — who has a letter from the Mental Health Department of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs saying he needs to keep the ducks — says it’s hard to think about not having them: “[The situation] is aggravating in a lot of ways.”
The ducks help him both physically and mentally, he said. He enjoys feeding them, spending time with them, and watching as the ducks interact. Welker is hopeful the law can be changed, like it was last year for a woman with spina bifida who owns a therapy pot-bellied pig.
Welker’s hearing is set for Wednesday, and he said he will share with the court just how much the ducks have helped him with his physical and emotionally well-being.
– – Catherine Garcia
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this is to inform you, michael john scott, that you have been pre-approved for membership in my new religion. and if you want to leave out all the christian stuff and just hold ducks sacred, that’s okay…in fact, should you accept, you can be the donald of that denomination.
welcome aboard.
How exciting! Duck fans everywhere rejoice!
i heartily agree james. i think religious institutions should insist on being taxed by the secular authority at the same rates as others….well, not necessarily corporate rates in this country…but say, as the average guy. when Jesus advised us to render onto Caesar that which is his i don’t think He was just dropping some empty platitude out there….there is real practical and theological value in being good citizens of wherever you are.
besides, accepting preferential treatment from a government obligates oneself to that government’s power structure….a real no, no in my eyes. “it is easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven” was no empty platitude either. i think He was trying to tell us how hard it is to focus on the forest when the trees all look like power and money.
tax me like the guy down the street and i will identify more with him than with his master. just sayin’………….
Exempt from the law and from taxes, too.
Holy feathers, Batgirl, you’ve done it again!
i love to see things i can help with. mr welker, i have just established a new religion. it is exactly like christianity except that we hold ducks sacred. i extend a welcome to you, you are pre-approved for membership. now we just need to get you incorporated and (poof) problem solved. sincerely held religious views, once you become a corporation, will exempt you from the law.
you’re welcome.
Big fan of ducks here. Had a rescued mallard years ago and it behaved like a dog. Would follow us everywhere. Beg for treats. Loved that duck.