Andy (goose)
 Andy (left) with owner Gene Fleming | |
| Species | Goose |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 1987 Harvard, Nebraska U.S. |
| Died | October 19, 1991 (aged 3–4) Hastings, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Resting place | Fleming Farm |
| Owner | Gene Fleming |
Andy (1987 – October 19, 1991) was a goose hatched without feet. He was well known for wearing sneakers to help him stand and walk. Andy was killed in 1991 by an unnamed perpetrator.
Background
The grey 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 plight of the bird. Fleming was an inventor and member of a local charity for disabled children, and he thought he would be able to 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 she got into a fight with 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]
On October 19, 1991, Andy disappeared, and a day later he was found dead in a local park with his head and wings removed.[7][8] The local 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 were able to identify the killer but did not reveal his identity to the public.[11] Andy was buried without ceremony at Gene Fleming's farm.[citation needed]
See also
Notes and references
- ^ a b Kringiel, Danny (2018-07-23). "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 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ a b c Fyfe, Duncan (2018-04-02). "The Killing of an American Goose". Medium. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ^ Bricklin, Mark (1999-04-01). Pets, Part of the Family: The Total Care Guide for All the Pets in Your Life. Rodale. ISBN 9781579541255. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ The Reader's Digest. Reader's Digest Association. 1989. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ "Andy, the Footless Goose". History Nebraska. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ Grossman, Ron (1993-06-27). "A Footnote On Andy The Goose". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Archived from the original on 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ "Murder Most Fowl". PEOPLE.com. 1991-11-11. Archived from the original on 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ "Beloved Footless Goose is Slain". Associated Press. 1991-10-22. Archived from the original on 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
- ^ Giaimo, Cara (2016-10-19). "The Goose Who Wore Nikes, and the Mystery of Who Murdered Him". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ "W.E." 2015-02-16. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ Giaimo, Cara (2016-10-19). "The Goose Who Wore Nikes, and the Mystery of Who Murdered Him". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
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