The Washington Humane Society came to the adorable rescue of 106 fuzzy chicks after a shipping mix-up last week.
[Spoiler alert: While the end result of this story is "They went to live on a farm," this is not like the case of your beloved childhood dog.]
The baby Rhode Island Reds were headed Blountsville, Alabama -- but thanks to a shipping error, they wound up in the District. While, yes, you really can ship live animals (even Tai Shan was sent via FedEx when he moved to China), the shipper was concerned that the chicks wouldn't survive another trip, according to a release from the Washington Humane Society.
Ownership of the 106 bouncing babies was then transferred to the D.C. Post Office, because... because they know how to care for farm animals?
OK, so we're pretty sure that enjoying the presence of 106 peeping chicks would be a fun way to pass the time while waiting in line. But the post office (probably wisely) looped in the Washington Humane Society, who brought the whole crowd to their New York Avenue adoption center.
There, workers got the chicks settled into new digs with heating lamps and blankets, and supplied them with food and water, according to a release from the organization.
The teensy slumber party continued for four days, but D.C. law prohibits residents from having their own backyard eggs, so eventually the chickies had to get a move on. On Tuesday, all 106 left for their new home at Farm Sanctuary in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Hope they like eggs up there.
"Thanks to quick-acting officers and an outstanding partnership with Farm Sanctuary, this rescue is just one more example of our commitment to saving lives -- no matter how small, or how many," the Washington Humane Society said.
Photo Credit: Washington Humane Society