WESTBURY character, Gary the Goose, has been reported on social media as having died following a fox attack.
Albinson.
Troublesome Gary made a name for himself after he caused havoc for many years to residents living on Station Road as he would often wander out in front of cars in the area. Gary was eventually relocated by the RSPCA to Frogmore Lake.
A post on social media reads, “It is with deepest regret that I must inform you all of the passing of Westbury’s resident goose, Gary. He was found by one of his helpers, deceased. It did indeed look like a fox attack I’m sorry to say.
“Gary (a.k.a Asbo, who was actually female) was a known menace in his day! Residing initially on Eden Vale Lake, he was often bursting into fishermen’s tents in the early hours of the morning looking for food, stopping traffic near Eden Vale Lake, attacking folk on the bus stop, leading other geese and ducks in a long line across the road by the Railway pub and generally being a disruptive, but very lovable character!
“I lost count of the number of times I had to get out of my pick-up truck to move him back onto the lake, only to see him in my rear-view mirror walking back out into the road again! He even made the papers!
“As Gary aged, and became slower, becoming yet more of a nuisance in the road, it was deemed necessary to move him to the enclosed Frogmore Lake, where he is now buried.”
Kate Scarlett, who often used to feed Gary, says she will miss the troublesome character.
She said, “I’m heartbroken. Gary was very affectionate to me which I know is not the case with others, but he would fly to me if he saw me, eat out my hand and even let me give him a little cuddle.
“There should be a plaque or something to commemorate Gary as he was such a character and everybody in Westbury knew about him. He has affected most people one way or another; whether they’ve been held up in traffic because he decided it was the best time to lead a procession of other geese on a tour of the town, or they were feeding him themselves and admiring his great beauty!”
RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson, who rescued Gary on a number of occasions for the animal welfare charity, including once when he had been shot with an air weapon, said, “I’m so sorry to hear Gary has sadly passed away. He was a real character and he’ll be missed by so many. I’m so grateful to everyone in Westbury who looked out for Gary. It’s a reminder that so many people care about animals and their welfare.”
