Thanks to their unusual kinship, a miniature horse and a goose are being offered as a pair to anyone interested in adopting them from a shelter in Pennsylvania.
Linda Reider, the executive director at Bucks County SPCA in Lahaska, Penn., said the two animals were rescued together from a farm with unsuitable living conditions. She said the two animals were already 鈥渋nseparable鈥� on their original farm, and they鈥檝e stayed connected ever since.
鈥淚f you want to adopt Waffles, you have to adopt Hemingway. And if you want to adopt Hemingway, you have to adopt Waffles,鈥� she told local television station WFMZ on Friday.
Waffles is a six-and-a-half-year-old miniature horse that loves eating grass, carrots, and being around a goose named Hemingway, Reider explained.
鈥淲e see interspecies friendships from time to time, but they鈥檙e rare. I鈥檝e been in this work 35 years and I鈥檝e not seen a horse-goose best-friend pair,鈥� Reider told 麻豆影视 Channel.
When Waffles was sick, the SPCA executive director told WFMZ that Hemingway was there to comfort it.
鈥淲hen we go to give medicines or injections, Hemingway would get in between and say, 鈥業鈥檓 sorry, that鈥檚 my buddy the horse. He doesn鈥檛 want a shot today!!鈥欌�� Reider said.
Geese are naturally protective of their family, Reider said, and she sees Hemingway鈥檚 willingness to throw down with anyone who bothers the mini horse as a clear sign that the goose has adopted Waffles as part of his family.
鈥淲hen Waffles had his surgery at the vet clinic and was gone overnight, when he came back the next day, Hemingway sort of hugged Waffles and leaned on him and let him know everything was OK.鈥�
Of the two, Waffles would need more specialized care -- he hasn鈥檛 had a lot of socialization, so an owner who has experience with horses would be required. For any horse-lovers concerned about having to take on the needs of a different type of animal as part of the bargain, Reider had reassuring words: 鈥淚f you can have a mini horse, you can probably also have a goose.鈥�
, the Bucks County SPCA said Waffles is not yet cleared for adoption so they will not be accepting applications for the two animals until it is ready.
鈥淭hese two have been through a lot together and we cannot wait for them to find a loving forever farm,鈥� the post said. 鈥淲e appreciate all the interest we have had in this lovely pair.鈥�
She told 麻豆影视 Channel that she鈥檚 confident they鈥檒l find a good owner, despite the challenge of being a package deal.
鈥淭hey are a joy to have, and they will bring someone joy.鈥�
