Wednesday, August 17, 2005

When Washington State Government is Stupid: Owner bereft after state takes away her pet duck

There are a variety of times when our peculiar state government can appear to be run by a group of loons. Occasionally, that image is reinforced by idiocy of this variety:




Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - Page updated at 04:37 PM

By Maureen O'Hagan
Seattle Times staff reporter


COURTESY OF DIANE ERDMANN

Diane Erdmann, shown with her duck,
Gooey, after she took him in, said she
had gotten Gooey after the duckling
was injured by a crow.

In the state of Washington, you can eat as much roasted duck as you please.

You can shoot the occasional duck, provided you follow certain rules.

But you can't possess a wild duck — a fact that Diane Erdmann didn't fully grasp until two state Fish and Wildlife officers showed up at her Auburn workplace Friday demanding her pet duck Gooey.

What ensued that afternoon was a bizarre altercation, the seizure of Gooey the duck and two separate criminal investigations. Fish and Wildlife is looking into Erdmann for unlawful possession of wildlife, and the Auburn Police Department is investigating the officers, one of whom allegedly struck Erdmann as he snatched the duck away from her.

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