Andy (1987 – October 19, 1991) was a

goose A goose (: geese) is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera '' Anser'' (grey geese and white geese) and '' Branta'' (black geese). Some members of the Tadorninae subfamily (e.g., Egy ...

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

The goose hatched in 1987 without feet and lived on a farm in

Harvard, Nebraska Harvard is a city in Clay County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,013. It is part of the Hastings micropolitan area. History Harvard was founded in 1871 when the railroad was extended to that point. It ...

. When Andy was two years old, Gene Fleming from nearby

Hastings Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...

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. Fleming's granddaughter, Jessica, named him after a girl with whom she got into a fight in

junior high school Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school. Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes ...

. 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. Subsequently, Andy caught the attention of the media and

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine giv ...

, which offered a lifetime deal to supply shoes for Andy – the bird wore out a pair of shoes in about one month. At one point, Andy and Gene appeared on ''

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show was the third installment of ''The Tonight Show''. Hosted by Johnny Carson, it aired from October 1, 1962 to May 22, 1992, replacing ''T ...

.'' Andy became a role model, especially for disabled children. With his shoes, Andy was able to walk, swim, and fly; his owners hoped Andy's mobility would give hope to people with disabilities. Andy disappeared on October 19, 1991, and was found dead the next day in a local park with his head and wings ripped off. The community collected as a reward to apprehend the killer; however, the perpetrator could not be identified. 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".

References

{{Reflist 1987 animal births 1991 animal deaths Geese Animal cruelty incidents Unsolved crimes in the United States Individual waterfowl Individual birds in the United States October 1991 crimes October 1991 in the United States People from Hastings, Nebraska

Background

See also

References