Gander needs a new home … immediately

LORI BRYSON HOLDS her 15-year-old pet Chinese gander, Marwyn, at her home near Lotus. Bryson is moving and is in immediate need of a good home for her friend. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

Marwyn the goose needs a new home and fast. He  doesn’t need just any home, but a good one that meets Laurie Bryson’s — Marwyn’s owner — specific requirements.

“He needs a secure pen with a secure shelter for night time, a female companion and a human who knows something about waterfowl and is willing to spend time with him,” said Bryson.”He’s like a dog in a bird body and he’s very people-oriented.”

Marwyn is a 15-year-old China White goose that was found wandering in Pollock Pines as a 2-week-old gosling. Bryson, a former Sierra Wildlife Rescue rehabber, got Marwyn because she had experience rehabbing birds.

Due to the economy, Bryson is moving from the property she leases near Lotus to a mobile home park in Placerville. Her two cats will accompany her, but farm animals such as Marwyn and his elderly wife, Sonora, are not allowed in the mobile home park or the city limits. The two have been close companions for 15 years and Bryson would rather see her little buddy euthanized with her by his side than to allow him to live in a perilous situation that would be emotionally or mentally unsound for him.

“He’s been pampered and he needs to be in a place where he can continue to live the lifestyle he’s accustomed to,” said Bryson.

The date of doom, according to Bryson, is March 29. Sonora, her female goose, elderly, blind and crippled, will be euthanized on March 22, but Bryson is hoping to find Marwyn the gander the perfect home before March 29.

“I have done everything I can do to find Marwyn a good home,” said Bryson. “I’ve talked to animal rescue groups as well as people from all kinds of places, including other states, searching for the right home.”

A move to another state might be unduly stressful on the gander who will already be dealing with the loss of both his goose and human companions. Besides, Bryson would like visitation rights. “People have called and said they have a pen for their chickens and a pond,” said Bryson, “but he can’t live with a bunch of chickens pooping on him and he’s afraid of deep water where he can’t touch the bottom.”

Marwyn might be leery of ponds, but he happily slips from one of his plastic pools to the other in the security of his large, wire-fenced pen. At night, he sleeps in his barn, although he is allowed into Bryson’s house for short periods. “He can come in for about 30 minutes without an accident,” said Bryson.

The gander understands about a dozen phrases. He is very social, has an excellent memory and makes an outstanding watch goose. He is large and well-feathered, a fact he is proud to display from all sides. Marwyn is no stranger to the limelight — he has his own Facebook page and a trophy, plaque and ribbon for “Most Photogenic Goose” from an East Coast waterfowl society. He has been the hit of  many of Bryson’s parties.

“He’s also the best man I’ve ever had — devoted, loyal and he doesn’t talk back,” said Bryson.

Marwyn means “mariner” in old German and that is exactly what he is — a feathered mariner in search of a good home. If you think you might meet Bryson’s requirements and would love to have a healthy goose companion who thinks well of himself, please contact Bryson at somersetgoose@sbcglobal.net. Only serious goose lovers need apply — and quickly.

Contact Wendy Schultz at 530 344-5069 or wschultz@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @wschultzMtDemo on Twitter.

Wendy Schultz

Wendy Schultz has been a columnist for the Mountain Democrat since 2002 and a staff writer since 2005. She covers Placerville city events and City Council meetings, writes feature stories and reports on things of interest in El Dorado County.

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