Andy (goose)
 Andy (on the left) with his owner Gene Fleming | |
| Species | Domestic goose |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 1987 Harvard, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | October 19, 1991 (aged 3–4) Hastings, Nebraska, U.S. |
Andy (1987 – October 19, 1991) was a goose hatched without feet. He was well known for wearing sneakers to help him stand and walk. He was killed in 1991 by an unnamed perpetrator.
Background
[edit]The goose hatched in 1987 without feet and lived on a farm in Harvard, Nebraska. When Andy was two years old, Gene Fleming from nearby Hastings became aware of the bird's plight. Fleming was an inventor and member of a local charity for disabled children, and he thought he could help. Fleming took care of Andy and his mate, Polly, and moved them to his farm in Hastings.[1] Fleming's granddaughter, Jessica, named him after a girl with whom she got into a fight in junior high school.[2]
Initial failed attempts at providing Andy with more mobility included a skateboard-like prosthesis. Fleming then fitted Andy with specially adapted baby-sized shoes, and he successfully taught the bird to walk with them.[3][4] Subsequently, Andy caught the attention of the media and Nike, which offered a lifetime deal to supply shoes for Andy – the bird wore out a pair of shoes in about one month.[2] At one point, Andy and Gene appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.[2]
Andy became a role model, especially for disabled children.[5][6] With his shoes, Andy was able to walk, swim, and fly; his owners hoped Andy's mobility would give hope to people with disabilities.[1]
Andy disappeared on October 19, 1991, and was found dead the next day in a local park with his head and wings ripped off.[7][8] The community collected US$10,000 (equivalent to $22,370 in 2023) as a reward to apprehend the killer; however, the perpetrator could not be identified.[9][10] According to former Chamber of Commerce president Don Reynolds, police identified the killer but did not reveal their identity to the public as they were "somebody that was not responsible".[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Kringiel, Danny (July 23, 2018). "Schräger Vogel: Das blutige Ende der Sneaker-Gans" [Offbeat Bird: The Bloody End of the Sneaker Goose]. Spiegel Online (in German). Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c Fyfe, Duncan (April 2, 2018). "The Killing of an American Goose". Medium. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Bricklin, Mark (April 1, 1999). Pets, Part of the Family: The Total Care Guide for All the Pets in Your Life. Rodale. ISBN 9781579541255. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ The Reader's Digest. Vol. 135. Reader's Digest Association. 1989. Andy Goose Steps Out. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Andy, the Footless Goose". History Nebraska. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ Grossman, Ron (June 27, 1993). "A Footnote On Andy The Goose". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Murder Most Fowl". PEOPLE.com. November 11, 1991. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Beloved Footless Goose is Slain". Associated Press News. October 22, 1991. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Giaimo, Cara (October 19, 2016). "The Goose Who Wore Nikes, and the Mystery of Who Murdered Him". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "W.E. 'Gene' Fleming, Friend to Lame Geese". Straus Media. February 16, 2015. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.