He Must Be Quackers: Dog Takes Out Duck In Bar Brawl

A hard-drinking duck famed for his boozing has been involved in a bar brawl - with a dog.

Despite many hours spent propping up the bar at his Devon locals, Star - who likes to don a bow-tie for his drinking sessions - was no match for moody pooch Meggie, who pounced on the dapper duck after a brief stand-off.

The Indian Runner duck and his sidekick Barrie Hayman, 69, are a familiar sight to drinkers around Chulmleigh, Devon, with some hostelries even offering Star his own stool.

Grandfather-of-one Barrie, who lives with his wife Sue, has been inseparable from Star since he plucked him from the incubator in 2011.

But after the fateful drinking session at Star’s favourite pub, The Old Courthouse Inn, it looked like their days together may be numbered.

Turns out wings are no match for paws when it comes to fisticuffs, and Meggie - who also belongs to Barrie - came out on top.

The two animals had a Mexican stand-off and stared each other out before the hound pounced - leaving the duck with a split beak.

Barrie said: “Star pushed his luck too far and Meggie snapped - splitting Star’s bottom beak right down the middle.

"He gave her a stare, then promptly stood on her back. It was not pretty and not nice. We were so scared we would lose Star. ”

He rushed the beer-loving avian to the vets’ where he was put on painkillers and said he was praying his beloved duck would make a full recovery.

Barrie - a former scuba diving instructor in Australia - added: “He had to go under anaesthetic, which is always risky and could go either way with ducks and other small animals.

"Thankfully our Star is a tough cookie and it looks like he came out okay. The vets are really pleased with his progress. He seems to be bouncing back nicely.”

Barrie was concerned the injury would leave Star with a lisp that would put his performance career in jeopardy - as the duo regularly team up to raise money for charity with their unique street double act.

But vets have reassured Barrie that Star should be able to take to the stage again and the injury will not affect the duck’s dulcet tones.

He said: “He just won’t leave me and so we go everywhere together. I’ve not trained him to follow me. He just seems to like it and he is one fantastic duck.

"He loves to come to the pub, where everyone loves him. He is such a personality and attracts so much attention.”

Star even has his own Facebook page under the name Star Hayman.

It reads: “I am an Indian Runner Duck. My daddy is my best friend. I love wriggly worm.”

[PICS: SWNS]