SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Most of us have seen the harrowing yet heart-warming films about lost and abandoned animals, such as Milo and Otis, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, and the Lion King.

Like much of Hollywood's discharge, these films gloss over the harsh reality of adorable animal abandonment, as Terry Banks found out on Monday morning.

It was a calm and pristine day. Terry Banks was going about his duties as caretaker at the Mary Murphy Senior Home when he noticed a commotion in the alleyway behind the building.

Eight, possibly nine ducklings and their mother waddle-sprinted in chaos after being barked at by a German Shepard.

With their mother chased away by the dog, the ducklings' outlook was grim, with things taking a traumatic turn.

Before his eyes Terry Banks saw one of the ducklings set-upon by scavenging gulls and ravens. For that one unfortunate soul, it was all over very quickly.

"It wasn't pretty," said Banks.

Using a fishing net from the back of his car, Banks set about collecting the severely shocked ducklings.

"I followed them all over the place, it wasn't easy catching them, I tell ya. It took a good 45 minutes. Man, you wouldn't believe how fast they can run," he said.

Storing the victims in a cooler, Banks quickly called renewable resources officer Danny Beaulieu, who arrived promptly.

While waiting for the Beaulieu to get there, one insensitive individual remarked on the culinary qualities of the duckling siblings. If they were not already going to develop severe personality disorders as a result of the morning's events, they certainly would now.

Asked whether a pet situation may arise from the saga, Banks said no, they had to go back to their native habitat.

"No they're from the wild, they have to go back to the wild," he said, sighing. "I don't want to start naming them, I'll get attached."

All too quickly the ducklings were whisked away from their humble saviour. Beaulieu decided against institutionalizing the foster-ducklings, saying they were better off in the wild.

"They have a fifty-fifty chance," said Beaulieu. "The only thing I can do with them is move them to a pond where there's stuff for them to eat."

Without the guidance of parents, one can only wonder what will become of the ducklings.

Perhaps they might get that Hollywood ending after all?