You can say that the staff at Pinellas County Animal Services went Quackers.

After getting word that a duck with an arrow through its neck had been sighted several times over the past several weeks, Pinellas County Animal Control Officer John Hobson joined forces with Damen Hurd and Derrick Ross of Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation in Bradenton.

On Thursday, Oct. 18, the three went to the pond in St. Petersburg where the wounded duck had been sighted. They were able to rescue the duck and Hobson took it to Animal Services.

The Animal Services director of veterinary services, Dr. Caroline Thomas, took over from there. X-rays were taken with the help of staff at St. Petersburg College for Veterinary Assistant Services, located next to Animal Services on Ulmerton Road. The college is in a collaborative partnership with Animal Services. Thomas performed surgery on Friday, Oct. 19, successfully removing the arrow.

“While the injury was quite severe and the surgery was complicated, I feel comfortable that the duck will make a full recovery,” said Thomas.

The duck, now affectionately referred to by the volunteers and staff as Quackers, is in guarded condition and the post-op recovery appears to be going well. Arrangements have been made to transfer Quackers to Loving Care Animal Hospital in Largo this week, when the duck's condition becomes stable.  

Pinellas County Animal Services is located at 12450 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Normal hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the adoption center closing at 4:30 p.m. The adoption center is also open the first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. To reclaim a lost pet, visit the shelter between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The facility is closed Sunday and holidays.

For news on how to adopt, donate or volunteer, join Pinellas County Animal Services on Facebook. To learn more about the shelter, visit www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices or call (727) 582-2600. The lost or found pets hotline is (727) 582-2604.

For more information on Pinellas County services and programs, visit www.pinellascounty.org, now with LiveChat, or create a shortcut to www.pinellascounty.org/mobile on any smartphone. Pinellas County government is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act