Ducklings rescued after dog killed their mother

COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO HELP

A HUGE operation saw the Lindley community pull together to rescue 12 little ducklings who had been left to fend for themselves after their mum was attacked and killed by a dog.

The ducklings became isolated at Low Hills Pond, off Plover Road, on Wednesday afternoon after a dog, which is said to have been walked around the water on a long lead, fatally attacked their mother.

News of the incident soon spread on social media and Lindley folk came out in their droves to help the the babies in whatever way they could.

The rescue operation even caught the attention of Holme Valley Mountain Rescue (HVMRT) who sent three members of their water rescue team to help guide the ducklings to safety.

Kayleigh Gunner, 34, was one of the HVMRT members to lend a hand.

The crew used throw lines to guide the ducklings into the smaller pond – and Kayleigh even waded in herself.

She said: “When we arrived, a lot of people were already down there. There’s two ponds – the main one and the smaller section which is not as deep. We knew that if we got them into the smaller pond we could then scoop them out of there.

“The guys had already done a great job of getting four or five out of the pond.

“We used throw lines to guide them into the smaller pond – or into an area where we could get them netted.

“I was the one in the water! It was a full-team effort alongside the community.”

After all 12 ducklings had been hauled out of the water they were transported to safety at Meltham Wildlife Rescue by Jean Shaw, from Lindley.