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The Duck Sanctuary, Lake Elsinore, CA (2026)

11/11/2025

Happy Tuesday and today is a day to remember all the veterans that served to keep us all safe.

My father was in WW2. When they first announced the draft in 1940, he and his brothers without any hesitation went immediately to the Navy office and enlisted.

My dad first trained at the Naval air station in Squantum Massachusetts, where he trained to be aviation metal smith.
He was then transferred to Hawaii for the duration of the war.

What his squadron did was any plane that came back from a mission damaged, they would repair the aircraft and had it back in the air within hours!

After the war, he opened his first automotive body shop in Los Angeles. The car you see him sitting in a 1950 Riley, was brought to him with the front of the car smashed almost to the firewall. After the customer declined the repairs... my dad purchased the car from him and completely rebuilt the car to perfect as you see in that picture below.

My father was truly a Renaissance man. Not only did he restore classic cars, he billt a 4 plex house with his brother for their entire family to live in, he made jewelry for my mother and was an accomplished harmonica player.... I looked up my father and loved everything about who he was.

He taught me everything about classic cars, he also taught me... when things are tough... you never give up... you find a different way to get things done, and if you want to get something done...go to YouTube and just learn...lol

So, today...please remember all the veterans that have served our country.

And yes in the one picture with all the Navy WAVES, he was quite the lady's man... those were all the Naval nurses...lol

10/29/2025

Wow!!!! What a Happy Birthday!!!

Thank you to the over 300 birthday wishes I received!!! I appreciate and love every single one!!!!

And...you know what else happened???

Another very happy adoption took place just now!!!

I have had a very good friend that I adopted a little boy Pekin to 4 years ago, and then she rescued a beautiful female muscovy from a park just a few days after that. Bubba the boy and Wiley the little girl muscovy became inseparable..... they ate together, slept together and played together every single day!!!

A few weeks ago.... the unimaginable happened..... she was watching them in the yard hanging out on her camera from work and Wiley layed down and just passed away!!!! She immediately left work and ran home...but it was too late Wiley was gone 😔

She was the most heartbroken 💔 I have ever seen her!!

And of course Bubba was just beside himself. She took Wiley and wrapped her in a towel and brought her to Bubba and he poked at her a few times.... like wake up.... please wake up.... and then just looked up at her with the saddest eyes you can ever imagine..... 😢 💔 😔

People.... Animals have the same feelings as humans and all you need to do...is spend just a little bit of time with them to understand.......

She was unbelievably sad.... she drank her coffee every morning watching Bubba and Wiley play together ❤️.

Finally after 2 weeks, she called me and told me the entire story...crying the entire conversation..... she said that after much thought, she would like to get another female Muscovy for Bubba and herself. She said... she would only consider a female and it had to be sweet and she had to want to be cuddled!!!

It only took me 3 seconds to tell her...I had just the girl for her!!! I had a little girl that i took in as a baby... and she actually lived in the house with me.... followed me around and loved to sleep on the bed and be held.

Well.... she drove out here today to meet her and instantly fall in love as the little girl just layed in her arms. Bubba was a little more apprehensive.... but after a few minutes, the little girl layed her head on him and it was a match! Bubba is still a little nervous.... that she is not Wiley.... but putting them in the car.... he just stared at her in the carrier and it will be just ok! ❤️

I could not have asked for a better birthday day than to save 2 hearts at the same time and see a little girl go to a home were she will be pampered like a little princess ❤️

I present to you Taffy and her new mommy and her and Bubba will make a beautiful couple!

Bubba.... you are a very lucky duck to have such a beautiful and caring mommy ❤️

A very happy story to a tragic event...... Wiley.... has crossed the rainbow bridge...but we will see her again some day and while she was on earth... she was loved as much as any duck could be! 😍 🥰 😍

10/25/2025

Happy Saturday all you amazing people!!!

I promised you a story yesterday and now its time to share it...

But First.....

It's that time of year for pumpkins and straw !!!

Please remember to save all of your UNCARVED pumpkins and please share on all of your pages that we will take any pumpkins and straw donations. If you happen to stop by a pumpkin patch, please let the owners/ employees know to contact us when they are closing down if they would like to donate any remaining pumpkins or bales of straw to the sanctuary... the ducks go crazy for them!!

And now this.....

About a month ago.... We had a very kind family find an abandoned duck at a park and they were given our number. The wife asked me if we take in injured white ducks... and of course I told her absolutely and if they could bring him in it would be amazing.

She told me that they were at the park and this white duck had his head turned sideways and was just super friendly and followed them around. Luckily, they felt bad for the poor guy and saved him and were actually able to bring him to me.

The next morning, they arrived with this beautiful male Pekin and as they described.... his head was almost turned upside-down. I looked at him and I could get him to hold his head upright for a minute, but then he immediately would let it turn sideways again.

So..... this is a typical case of Wry neck! Now this happens to ducks when they have very poor nutrition and if you look below... I put an explanation in the photos.

When I tell you that these ducks....meaning domestic and especially Pekins.... have no way of feeding themselves when they are dumped.... here is a perfect example. NOW... im not saying he didn't have it before he was dumped....but his case was one of the worse I have seen!!

Ok...lets just say he did have it before being dumped...still how did this happen??? I have talked about this before... and again it has everything to do with poor nutrition!! I have had so many ducks surrendered and the first thing I ask is what are you feeding him.... I can not tell you how many times.... Well Tractor fu***ng Supply told me that I could feed them the same as my chickens and or...oh they said scratch is fine!!

NO.... Ducks require a special diet and No...Scratch is just a treat... not what's for dinner!!! You are basically giving your ducks candy everyday with almost zero nutrition!!! Duck food is made for a very good reason... it's what ducks need to eat!

Was it from the original owner or from being dumped.... we will never know...but now... we need to fix it and now!!! It can be fatal!! What do we do?? We start it on tons of vitamin supplements and Selinium.... this will eventually cure it.

Allright...back to the story.

I started him on a complete vitamin regime with a Selinium tablet with every breakfast. This duck was so precious!! I had him with just a few others that were sweet. Everytime I walked out to that enclosure...he would run up to me and with his little turned up head.... just look at me with such love ❤️.

He was definitely getting better and was a very happy duck! One day 2 weeks ago... my rescue partners Ray and his wife Carmen were here at the sanctuary dropping off a few ducks that had been dumped at their park and they were just sitting in the one patio area where I had him and Carmen was instantly attracted to him.

She asked what was up with him and I explained to her his condition. She immediately stood up and walked over to him and just scooped him up and held him in her arms!!! She was not going to let go!!! She and Ray talked for a minute and came back.... Howie.... is it ok if we take him home for a while and work with him on a one to one basis!!

OMG.... yes, of course... that would be amazing! And so they got a carrier ready and off they went.... a 3 hour drive home.

That night...they called me and I gave them a full list of all the supplements that they would need and directions for giving them to him.

Carmen was in love..... she called me first thing the next morning and tokd me that they had named him John Snow from Game of Thrones!!! They had set up a place in the house for him and he would be sleeping in the house at night and go out in an area they also set up for him outside.

Fast forward a week..... Ray called me like a little child waiting to go to Disneyland!!! Howie.... Omg....John Snow is doing so good!! I am going to send you a video how what's going on with him!!! Then... as we were talking on the phone...Ray had me on speaker....John Snow came running over to him. Ray was like... I think her hears your voice!! Talk to him some more.... and as if was talking...John held his head up straight and started quacking!!! Ray was like....he hears you and is talking to you!!!

This was crazy!!! But we did it everynight before he got his dinner and everytime he heard my voice....he came running over to Ray and started to quack!!!!

Ray and his wife Carmen are a pair of the nicest humans on earth....they go to their park every night to feed to ducks and the other animals there! Ray told me this exact thing the other night...."I wish people could just spend one day with a duck....just to see how amazing each one of their personalities are and how each one is so amazing!"

John Snow...gets royal treatment now.... Carmen gives him a private bath everynight....he gets a neck message everyday and with his complete regiment of supplements and correct diet....everyday he is showing so much improvement!!

Now they have 4 other Muscovy ducks they have talen in from the park... and John Snow is their new pack leader and a new family has been created. Ray and his wife will be spending 5 days down here for the move and we will be building and entire house and patio area for John Snow and his new friends 🧡

John is a very lucky young man and myself.... I feel so blessed
to have such caring people that I can call family! ❤️

I know this was long.... but i needed to share this story and let you be a part of it.

Love to all of my amazing supporters and please share and donate to keep stories like this in our lives!!

Venmo -berkowitz
Zelle 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 💘 ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 💘 ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 💘 ❤️

10/20/2025

Oh God.... really????

This morning...Donise messages me.... I am the park.... someone just dumped these three Pekins and they are just standing on the sidewalk and are very scared and have no idea what just happened!!!!

Excuse my language.... what the f**k is wrong with people!!!!???

You buy some baby ducklings from whatever stupid store is still selling live animals to people without telling them not to dump them when they are finished caring for them, and then one day...you pack them up in a box and go to a park..... set them free and say.... good luck...hope you don't starve to death or get eaten by a predator tonight... turn around and walk away.... wow!!!

Thank you Donise for calling me and Thank you Danielle Carruthers for going out while on your deathbed to save these guys!!!! Danielle called me.... they are safe in my car and by the way.... they are Giant Pekins. Which if you dont know... there are many types of Pekin Ducks and this particular breed... are literally Giant. She said that they would barely fit in the carriers!!!

Another successful rescue.... and now they will no longer have to deal with humans that a brain could not be found.

And now a word from our sponsor.....

I would like to thank the few people that donated to help feed everyone this weekend, however... I used all of those funds up this morning along with a few rolls of quarters to make sure we are fed tonight.

I had a lady drop off a few ducks last week and as she had very little cash to donate...she donated a 5 oz Silver bar!! So my question to you is...do I just offer it for sale for $240, which covers our food bill for the day.... or do i do like I've done in the past and offer it as a raffle item to anyone that makes a $10 donation for the next 2 days? I'm scared that only a few people will donate and then I'm giving it away for pennies... let me know if anyone is interested and I'll decide in the morning.

Thats all folks.... hope you have a nice Sunday and lets feed Ducks!!

Venmo -berkowitz
Zelle 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

10/12/2025

Here is your Saturday night update!!!!

It's 10pm!!! She has been driving for almost 4 hours to get here!

Our amazing transport girl just arrived with a very special little girl!! There are so many people involved in each rescue...it's never 1 person, but indeed it takes a team to make this happen!!

They got here 10 minutes ago... the very first thing we did was to get her out of the carrier and just look to see how bad the wound is. It's bad. The good news is that Dr.Ross had given me some extra antibiotics and pain meds in case that last goose needed it.

As we talked about many times....Cat and Dog bites.... its not just the damage they do... it's all of the bacteria in their mouths that will kill any bird!!!

I immediately gave her a dose of the antibiotics and then a shot of the pain meds.... she will start to feel relief in about 20 minutes. It still amazes me that how much a bird is injured... they will still try to hide the pain!!

Monday morning...as soon as I get everyone water... I will be on my way for the 1.5 hour drive to Dr.Ross's office. Without him... I seriously don't know what would happen to all these injured babies.

Tomorrow is a new day.... and this little baby will survive to see many more new days.... all thanks to the entire team of people...from the Animal control officer all the way to the staff at Dr.Ross's office.... and everyone in between.

Remember.... without your donations none of this would be possible.

I am just learning now as I write this... that a duck sanctuary in Michigan is experiencing the same type of hate that I have and now they are fighting to stay around.... what is wrong with people..... I'll never understand.

Venmo is -berkowitz
Zelle is 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

10/11/2025

Hey guys.....Happy Saturday!!

I just received a call from an animal control officer.... she has an injured Muscovy duck that was attacked by an off leash dog!!!!

First....I can not stand people that dump domestic ducks... I think I've mentioned that a few times....

Second... off leash dogs!!! Just stop it!!! If you take your dog to the park.... wtf are you doing letting him off leash???

The officer told me that she had tried calling several rescues in her area....but to absolutely no avail.... No one was willing to take her and they were considering euthanization as the next step.... finally she reached out to a wildlife rescue and they gave her my number!!

If you can not handle blood and open wounds do not scroll down to the photos!!!!

I was extremely lucky that one of my regular transport girls is available to pick up the poor baby.

This will be a 300 mile round trip for her.... please please help today with a few kind donations not only to cover her gas, but for Dr.Ross's bill as well. I already have an appointment for Monday for an Egyptian goose and I will just drop this one off as well.

Thank god for this little girl that 1, they were able to connect to me...2, that i was able to find immediate transport and 3, that I exist to help these babies.....or they were just going to put her to sleep!!!

Thank you in advance for your generous donations as always...

Venmo -berkowitz
Zelle 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

These pictures are graphic.....

10/10/2025

Happy $5 Friday!!!

Please help support us in saving these poor babies!!

5 days ago.... Robert called.. he had been trying to catch a juvenile Egyptian goose for over a week with his leg completely entangled in fishing line...

Everytime he would get close... the family would move into the water and make rescue impossible! Robert would sit and watch this poor baby chewing on the fishing line trying to get it off of its leg!!!!

Finally... the day came!!! He was able to surprise him and grab him!! Robert immediately went to work on removing the line! It was absolutely one of the worse entanglements he had seen and much longer the goose would has lost his leg!!

Robert got him home and immediately Called me with jubilee....he finally got him!!

Robert is one of the most amazing humans and he really cares for all the birds at this park!! 3 days later...one of our amazing supporters sent him $100 for gas money and he was on his way!

He arrived around 1 pm and we immediately got him started on pain meds and antibiotics! He will be fine and live many more days with having 2 legs!!

I've preached about it until I'm blue in the face....fisherman are completely stupid about leaving your trash everywhere!!!! I literally get calls EVERY SINGLE DAY about another bird wrapped up in fishing line.....THIS NEEDS TO STOP!!!

OK...off the soap box....

Please please help support the sanctuary and what we do.

A donation of $5 from every single person helps provide food, shelter, bedding, and medical care everyday and I cant do it without your help.

Venmo -berkowitz
Zelle 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

10/09/2025

STOP DOMESTIC DUCK DUMPING!

Every year, unwanted domestic ducks are abandoned at ponds and parks under the misconception that they will survive “just fine” in the wild.
Domestic ducks are not wild animals - they rely on human care for survival. Many breeds are flightless or poor fliers, leaving them extremely vulnerable to predators. Their ability to forage and find adequate nutrition is also far weaker than that of their wild ancestors.

Dumping domestic ducks doesn’t just endanger the birds themselves - it also harms wild duck populations and local ecosystems. It can lead to overcrowding, hybridization between wild and domestic ducks, and depletion of natural food sources, all of which upset the ecological balance of ponds and wetlands.

With winter approaching, food becomes scarce for dumped domestics. If you have space for new feathered friends on your pond, or simply want to help, here’s what you can do:

1. Properly identify domestic breeds

Domestic ducks are often larger and heavier than wild species, and many cannot fly. Compare the duck you’re seeing to photos online to confirm your identification.

Do not capture or interfere with wild ducks or geese. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and handling them without a permit can result in serious legal penalties.

2. Safe capture and rescue

Domestic ducks are typically very tame and may approach people willingly, especially if offered food.

You can safely catch them using a towel or a net. Once caught, gently wrap the duck in a towel to calm it and protect yourself from flapping wings.
If you cannot keep the duck, contact local rescues, farms, wildlife rehabilitators, or humane societies. They may have resources or contacts who can provide proper long-term care and housing for abandoned waterfowl.

3. Adopt and buy responsibly

Domestic ducks can live 10 years or more with proper care. Buying or hatching ducklings means committing to caring for messy but loveable adults who need space, clean water, and protection from predators.
Do your research before bringing ducks home to ensure they’re a good fit for your lifestyle and property.

Have a happy and safe fall, everyone, and thank you for helping protect our domestic and wild ducks alike! 🧡

Please share this to everyone..... so maybe 1 day... we won't get that phone call again.

10/06/2025

Happy Sunday afternoon!!!!

Sorry its so late...but its been a crazy day here at the sanctuary!!

Between getting things ready for the move and our normal everyday duck stuff.... we had this happen.....

We received a call from one of our long time supporters.... her good friend found a baby goose that had been dumped at a park about 6 months ago....

"There is no way that I was going to just leave her there...she followed me around the park that day and I knew she needed a home!"

This amazing lady built her whole backyard around having this goose come to live with her!! Now...she knew it was time for her to find a goose friend for her.... so Hester called me on Thursday and asked if she could bring her friend and Lucy the goose down and see what we could do.

They arrived at around 11 am and we walked around the sanctuary with Lucy the goose and see if we could find her the perfect room mate. Well...it took a bit of time...but we did it!! We found a little girl that seemed like she was not really bonded to any of the other geese and we put them together in a little play are to see how it would go.

20 minutes of them just ignoring each other and we put some watermelon in and they started eating together ❤️. It was a match. Now these 2 will have each other to talk to and tell stories to each other about their previous lives before meeting today!!

Another fantastic friendship has been made and one more goose going out to a fantastic new life!! I am so happy for both of them!!! ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕

Then.......

The phone rang.... 3pm....

Hello....is this the Duck sanctuary???

We live in Lake Elsinore and we were over at the lake and saw 2 ducks just sitting there... when we approached them... one got up to see us...but the little black and white one could not get up or walk at all!!! We took them home as we knew they should not be there and we were wondering if you could take them in and have her looked at???

Luckily...our friends Betty Luscher and Jeffrey Luscher were here dropping off some donations and they live only 5 minutes from the people that found them. We made the arrangements and now they are safely at Betty and Jeff's house awaiting a ride to Dr Ross. Thank god... there are still kind people in this world.

Betty and Jeff will be dropping them off at Dr Ross's office tomorrow and lets pray it's not ti late to fix that little girl. Betty says they are extremely bonded together ❤️..... the only thing I can say right now is....Whomever You AreThat Dumped These Poor Babies and left them to DIE.... I HOPE YOU GET THE KARMA YOU DESERVE.....SUBHUMAN!!!

I will keep you updated as I find out the prognosis and for right now... they are safe, warm and being spoiled on Jeff's pool table as I write this!! ❤️

More medical expenses...but that is why we're are here... To Help the Helpless!

If you would like to help us... please donate any amount helps me cover these expenses....

Venmo -berkowitz
Zelle 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

10/04/2025

Happy Saturday!!!!

Things are moving along perfectly with the sale of my house leading to the purchase of the new Duck Sanctuary property.

Im so excited to finally be in a place that will be ours forever!!! Checked on zoning again this morning and we are 100% good.

When we start to get everything moving... we will call our amazing animal control people and let them come walk around and see what we are doing!!

This is the most excited I've been in a long time... it already has one pond on the property and we will build 2 more for the geese and the ducks.

This morning..... the people that brought me the 3 geese from the off leash dog attack came by for a visit with them!!! They were so very very happy with his recovery and how all 3 have put on weight and look absolutely amazing!!! They told me how very scared they were in the beginning, that they did not thonk he was going to make it!!!

They left here so excited to see how we'll they were doing and so very very excited about this upcoming move!! Ray and his wife have saved so many lives going to their park every single day to remove fishing line and hooks from all the birds there.

It's a great day here...sun is out...cool breeze and lots of very happy ducks.

Please remember that we need your help to help us do what we do....

Venmo -berkowitz
Zelle 949 3065390
PayPal [email protected]
Cashapp@ $rescueduckpond

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