A young goose named Goosey is being hailed as a hero after alerting his Texas family to a barn fire late last Tuesday night. The 4-month-old bird's unusual and persistent honking woke his owner, Bert Gerber, who was asleep on the couch.
Gerber discovered the barn on his Fort Bend County property engulfed in flames. He was able to extinguish the blaze using a water hose before it could spread further. All animals housed in the barn were reported safe and accounted for.
Surveillance footage captured the goose standing in front of the burning barn, honking to raise the alarm. Bert Gerber told KHOU 11 that had he not been woken up, the fire could have become uncontrollable within minutes.
Goosey had only been with the Gerber family since Mother's Day, joining the household after the couple's daughter, Elaine, bonded with him at a “hug a goose” event. While Chelsea Gerber was initially hesitant about owning a goose, she was later won over by Goosey's affectionate nature.
Following the incident, the family is considering getting Goosey a companion goose, potentially named Lucy. Elaine Gerber expressed excitement about the possibility of starting a goose breeding business with future offspring.