Oh, Melissa -- I'm so sad for you, too.  You did the right thing by your
good friend although I know how hard it was to do.  Purrs for Panther's
crossing and for your heart.
Christine, Oreo, Midnight, Robin & Tucker

Oh, Melissa, here I am wittering on about a goose and you've lost dear old
Pan at the same time.  There is no comparison.
Hugs for your heart.  One day only the happy memories will remain.

Tweed

Shiral skrev i meddelandet
<1144367198.572605.129990@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>...

(((((Melissa)))))
I am so sorry to hear that Pan is gone.
I know what it is like, it is only four months since I had to let my black
Hugo Katt go.
It is so hard to lose them.
Lots of hugs, Elisabet

I've been off list for a few days (off sick) so I am catching the news
late. Hugs for Enid and for Panther

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

No, he wouldn't, I'm afraid.  At one time I used to have ducks along with
the geese, but once or twice the current gander drowned a duck in the pond
by trying to mate with her.  It wasn't a deliberate thing, his weight just
pushed her under.  Once I thought was an accident, twice and I decided not
to keep ducks and geese together again.
I don't have any ducks now.  They draw the foxes in as they are their
ultimate favourite food and I have enough trouble with foxes as it is
without attracting them more than my poultry do already. :-(

Tweed

I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm sorry about that.  My American friend Bob
in Michigan once said to me  "geese are emotional creatures" and indeed they
are.  He has some himself.
He's written a book about his animals and birds, mainly rescues, which has
sold very well and has a nice website:
http://www.enslavedbyducks.com

I am hoping to find Shylock a new girl asap but it won't be easy now bird
flu has entered the country (one swan. 500 miles away) and there will be
restrictions on the movement of poultry soon, I expect.
Hysterical over-reaction as usual fueled by the media.  It couldn't have
come at a worse time for Shylock.

Tweed

They seem to have "feelings" and real attachments to their mates which puts
them in a different league from other poultry as far as I'm concerned.
Some people are afraid of their geese because in the breeding season the
gander will be protective of his goose or geese and may approach and
threaten their owners.  If the owners react by threatening back the
situation can escalate out of control and a nip from a serrated beak is
painful!
I've never had any difficulty with the 4 ganders that I've had over the
years.  I ignore them if they get into threaten mode which isn't often.
They are great guards and always shriek if they think anyone might be around
that they don't know.
The gentlest gander I ever had was Sid, who died a few years ago.  He was an
absolute pussy-cat.
I had a builder in to rebuild my drains and he wanted to get a paving slab
from where Sid was grazing on the lawn with Honk.  He was not confident to
go through that gate.
"No need to worry" I said, "the gander is a darling."

The builder went through the gate to get the slab, Sid noticed him and as
the builder was bending over picking up the slab, Sid came hurtling over and
launched himself - unseen of course from behind - and bit and tweaked his
buttocks.  Hard.  Very hard.

Hmmm.  I was a bit embarrassed as I'd said the gander was safe.  I thought
he was, he was a love with me.
That's what I like about geese.  They protect.
I hope I will always be in a position to have a pair of geese.  They are
fantastic!  In my opinion only, of course ;-)

Tweed

I wonder if it would help Shylock if you showed him Enid's body?  I
think I've read somewhere that it helps an animal heal, they know their
friend has passed on.

Just a thought.
Purrs for both of you.

Theresa