I built a little pond in my back yard and my sister-in-law Donna Mae Schuck, who raises ducks and geese asked me if I wanted some ducks for it Fleming explained When I picked up the ducks noticed a goose that could not walk hobbling in the I asked Domna about him and she said he didn't have any feet Because the 2-year-old gray goose named Andy had hatched with only stumps for legs and no feet he could not walk or swim like others Fleming was moved by the plight of the unlucky but spirited bird Fleming said he thought about the goose for a week trying to figure out what he could do My natural instinct once l saw Andy was to help him said He finally had the idea that shoes might help the goose walk So he went back to Schuck's place Polly and traded a more valuable pair of geese in exchange for Andy and Andys lifetime mate polly