Court marriage

Q: My question is regarding my marriage. When I met my husband I wasnt paying much attention to religion so we married in court as civil marriage. My father and mother left me alone in another country so I didn't have any wali present on the day we got married. Now since I learned more about Islam and I am concerned, I would like to know if our marriage is valid?

Keeping a duck as a pet

Q: I want to know if it is ok to keep a duck as a pet inside the house, because somebody told me that according to Islam the sound of a duck is not ok in the house. Please let me know if it is correct to have a duck as a pet in the house.