South Creake mourns Gregory the goose and 20 birds, killed by stray spaniel

Gregory the goose, who has been killed by a stray dog. Picture: Terry Large (Image: Archant)

Gregory the greylag goose had lived on the River Burn in South Creake, near Fakenham, for more than 10 years.

He died trying to protect an adopted brood of ducklings from a black spaniel which was attacking them, on Monday night.

Around 10 ducks and Gregory were killed by the dog before it was chased off by villagers.

It returned yesterday morning, killing a further 10 birds before it was again chased off, running away in the direction of Fakenham.

Gregory's home beside the Burn at South Creake. (Image: Archant)

Terry Large, who runs the village crab shop on The Green, raised Gregory with his wife Jacki, after he was caught in a by a neighbour's cat.

'We raised Gregory from a day old,' he said. 'We raised him with the ducks because Jacki was the duck warden, we used to save the baby ducks when their mothers were run over on the road. Because Gregory was brought up with the baby ducks, he always thought he was a duck. Every year, he's attached himself to a brood of ducklings and protected them.'

Neighbour Sally Scott said she and other villagers would feed Gregory.

'He was the gentlest giant,' she said. 'He used to eat out of your hand. A lot of people used to come from all over to feed him and take pictures of him. He will be greatly, greatly missed. He was part of everyone's life.'

A Norfolk police spokesman said the attack was not a matter for the force to investigate. The dog involved in the attack is believed to have been a black springer spaniel, with a docked tail.

Yesterday duck numbers were visible lower than normal on the river near the village hall, which had burst its banks flooding The Green and main road.