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, the authorities 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 Alfredo Mellado, known for his activism in animal rights cases. Mellado filed a motion for reconsideration so that the Municipality would reconsider its decision.
