Fowl play prompts unusual court order

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — A court has issued what could be at least a local first: an order of protection for a duck.
A Suffolk County judge approved the measure Thursday, telling a man accused of shooting a family’s pet duck to stay away from the bird and her owners.
Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Chief Roy Gross says he can’t recall a previous court case involving cruelty to a duck.
Owner Janet Lippincott says a group of young people bounded over her backyard fence and swarmed the yellow-billed Peking duck with pellet guns on March 17. The bird, named Circles, has recovered after a bullet pierced her voice box.
The 21-year-old suspect pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony animal cruelty charges.