Recently, 62-year-old Oscar nominee Demi Moore shared a sweet update on her Instagram — she and her beloved dog Pilaf have taken in three orphaned baby mallard ducklings.
"We rescued three orphaned baby mallard ducklings! With the help and guidance of my local vet we are working to nurture them until they are old enough to be reintroduced to their natural habitat. It has been a messy joy, but Pilaf is loving her new friends," Demi said.
Fans flooded her post with warm, admiring comments. "This divine! I just love it… precious," wrote one. "Such a beautiful thing to do," added another.
But not everyone was thrilled. Some voiced serious concerns in the comments:
"This is not ok. Wild mallards should be rehabbed by wildlife rehabber. Her vet should have known that. Sorry… cute but imprinted…" Another worried, "What happened to mom! If they imprint to you—there is no way you should release them. That will work against them in the wild as they follow humans around and then fish and wildlife unalives them for that very reason. Talk to a wildlife rehab facility."
Meanwhile, Demi has also joked about her big furry family, sharing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon how her nine dogs play a huge role in her single life. She explained how she arranges pillows and beds inside her own bed to accommodate them, adding, "Hence why I’m single."
As with any humor, there’s always a grain of truth. Reading through the anxious comments, you wonder — can loving animals sometimes go too far? When we focus so much on saving and caring for creatures, is there a risk of unintentionally doing them a disservice?
Demi’s rescue effort is undeniably heartfelt, but it also reminds us that caring for wildlife demands special knowledge and caution. Because sometimes, love alone isn’t quite enough.
