Unbelievable: a duck has been reported and already has a defense attorney representing it

In the heart of the city of Mendoza,  an unusual conflict took flight:a domestic duck was reported for attacking other pets and now faces a legal process that has already mobilized neighbors, officials, and an animal defense attorney.

The bird, popularly known as the duck Juan, used to accompany Margarita Flores at her flower shop on San Martín Avenue. It was not only part of the urban landscape, but had also become a beloved character for tourists and Mendoza residents who saw it walk among flowerpots and dogs.

Complaints, signatures, and a forced move

Everything changed a week ago, when a neighborhood complaint reached the Municipality. According to the claim, the duck had shown aggressive behavior toward other pets. As a result, theauthorities ordered its removal from the public space.

The measure surprised the community. In just a few days, more than 7,000 people signed an online petition for Juan to return to his routine in the downtown area. However, the municipality maintained its position.

Silvina López, Secretary of Environment of the Municipality of Mendoza, explained that the removal of the duck aimed to preserve the safety of the public space, ensure responsible pet ownership, and protect Juan himself from urban traffic.

Currently,  the duck lives in a pen in Maipú, where Margarita and her husband reside. But, according to their account, the bird has not adapted well:  "He quacks, runs, he's used to being free. At night we would take a walk with the dogs and then he would lie down at my feet," his owner lamented.

A criminal lawyer took the case

The controversy escalated to the point of adding a new protagonist:  criminal lawyer Oscar AlfredoMellado, known for his activism in animal rights cases. Mellado filed a motion for reconsideration so that the Municipality would reconsider its decision.

"The purpose of the motion is for the duck Juan to return to his usual environment, even if it is not his natural habitat," the attorney explained. The legal action was filed within the stipulated ten-day period, before the measure became final.

Those close to Margarita hope that the municipality will reconsider its position and allow for an intermediate solution.  "The idea is to reach an agreement that considers all parties: the animal, its owner, and the city," they stated.

More than a pet: a "night watchman" of downtown

Juan was not just a flower shop companion. According to his owner, at night he acted as a little watchman. "When he heard noises in the street, he was the first to go out and see what was happening. After that, the dachshund would go out," she recounted.

The initial complaint took Margarita by surprise.  "No one ever complained. The inspectors treated me well, but they warned me that if I disobeyed, the fine could reach one and a half million pesos," she said.

Meanwhile, while the courts evaluate the next steps, Juan and Margarita remain separated. The Mendoza community, caught between confusion and sympathy, awaits a resolution that will allow them to reunite at their downtown flower shop.