Lupita, a duck that was brutally attacked by a dog during a BBC News segment on responsible pet ownership, has found a permanent home at a wildlife sanctuary. The incident, which was captured on camera and widely shared online, showed the dog carrying the injured duck in its mouth as an RSPCA spokesperson discussed summer heatwave safety.
Volunteers discovered Lupita with a broken pelvis and neurological damage, struggling to walk after the mauling. After hiding for approximately 12 hours, she was found by local watchers who intervened. A wildlife vet determined that Lupita might never be able to return to her riverside habitat due to her injuries.
Initially cared for by rescuer Anne and local resident Vivi Hanson, Lupita underwent a three-week recovery period involving antibiotics and veterinary treatment. Her resilience earned her the nickname "stoic." Hanson, who has known Lupita and two other ducks for years after they were abandoned, expressed dismay at the public's reaction to the video and criticized the BBC for not intervening during the attack.
"The messages on the BBC video were horrendous," Hanson stated. "Horrible, horrible."
Lupita has now been relocated to the Waterfowl Sanctuary in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where she is adapting to her new environment and socializing with other waterfowl. The incident has prompted calls for greater awareness among dog owners regarding the impact their pets can have on vulnerable wildlife, especially in areas where animals frequent.