Bentley The Duck (Photo: Ocean County Veterinary Hospital)
Bentley is one lucky duck!
The Peking duck, found in 2014, has had a busy few months. He somehow got loose in Brick, was attacked by another animal, recovered, and is now a member of the New Jersey Animal Hall of Fame.
Bentley was one of seven animals to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year after being nominated by the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. The Hall of Fame, the organization says, exists to “honor the human-animal bond by recognizing special animals that have made a difference in someone’s life.”
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Bentley wandered onto a Brick Township property during the spring of 2014 and continued to hang around until being attacked by another animal at some point in October. After a Good Samaritan called authorities, Bentley was transported to the Ocean County Veterinary Hospital in Lakewood for treatment, where he ultimately made a full recovery. His treatment was paid for by the Ocean Pet Caring Foundation.
The annual hall of fame has recognized over 100 animals since its inception in 1996, according to the organization. This year’s inductees also included a police K9 with 12 years of service with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, a Chihuahua who uses a wheelchair after being hit by a car (but now serves as official greeter at Maywood Veterinary Clinic), a therapy dog at a cancer center in North Jersey, and a golden retriever who donates his love to college students at exam time to help them relieve stress. The hall also recognized two humans – Leonard Soucy of The Raptor Trust, who has spent most of his life protecting bird species in New Jersey, and Dr. Catalina Montealegre, a veterinary at the Red Bank Animal Hospital’s office in Linwood, who runs a host of volunteer programs connecting people and animals.
“It is an honor to acknowledge those animals and people that inspired us to share their stories and to recognize the role that veterinarians play in strengthening the human-animal bond,” said Dr. Peter Falk, chairman of the Animal Hall of Fame Committee, in a statement. “This year’s inductees are exemplary animals and individuals who have made significant contributions to those around them.”
