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Earlier this February, just before Valentines Day, Deb Hoyt spotted a classified ad for a lonely goose. Blossom, the newspaper ad read, had been recently widowed and was seeking a life partner. Could this be the message from the universe that Hoyt had been looking for?
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Hoyt immediately called the number, hoping to set up a date between Blossom and her own goose, Frankie. She didn’t know what to expect, but she felt hopeful
Frankie had been widowed several years prior. His partner had disappeared, likely attacked by a wild animal, and the couple had lost all their eggs. Ever since the tragedy, Frankie had wandered around the farm searching for his missing spouse, reports The Washington Post. He exhibited signs of loneliness and depression.
This isn’t an unusual reaction. Like many birds, geese have complex social dynamics. They’re capable of forming strong bonds with friends as well as with their romantic partners. Domesticated geese tend to mate for life, and losing a soulmate can be a traumatic event. In some instances, widowed geese have been known to grieve for years and even die of broken hearts.
Hoyt felt for Frankie. She’d been hoping to pair him with a new partner—she just hadn’t found the right match yet. But something about Blossom’s ad caught her eye. Maybe this could be it.
When Hoyt called the number on the ad, Blossom’s owner, Dorie Tammen answered. She revealed that Blossom lived at a cemetery about 50 miles away. Tammen explained that Blossom had also lost her life partner to predation, and she’d been suffering from loneliness ever since. Blossom isolated herself from the other geese and hid behind buildings in her grief. Tammen was hoping that the right romantic relationship could restore her goose’s quality of life.
So, for the sake of both their geese, Hoyt and Tammen scheduled a date. While the first meeting didn’t go as planned (Frankie was a little standoffish), the second was a huge hit. The two geese ran around the yard together, then explored the lake shore, searched for nibbles, and interacted with the other birds who call the cemetery home. Ever since, they’ve been inseparable.
The whole thing has been heartwarming to watch, Hoyt told CBC News. And it’s proof that even when your heart is broken, it’s possible to love again.
