A heartwarming video has gone viral on the internet, featuring an unlikely pair: a goose and a dog patrolling around a ranch in Wyoming every day. For ranch owner Mariann Eckendorf, this sight is not uncommon. She witnesses geese, hawks, horses, ducks, and chickens living together harmoniously on a daily basis.
Eckendorf, a 54-year-old woman, owns the Bighorn Mountain Alpacas ranch where she lives and works with her 18-year-old daughter. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to Wyoming in the early 2000s, working as a teacher on the Crow Indian Reservation. Upon becoming pregnant, she decided to stay home and focus on farm work, which eventually became a passion she couldn’t resist.
Established in 2005, the Bighorn Mountain Alpacas ranch started with just 7 alpacas and has now expanded to 22.
Joey the goose was born at the ranch in 2016. “It was hatched here,” Eckendorf said, “and has been with me ever since.”
Accompanying Joey is a goose named Marty, who passed away at the age of 3 due to a genetic disease. After losing his friend, Joey decided to join the ranch’s pack of eight livestock guardian dogs.
Solomon is one of the guardian dogs, with 75% Akbash and 25% Pyrenees bloodline. Approaching seven years old, his main duty is to protect all ranch residents.
Around five years ago, Solomon and Joey embarked on their now-famous patrols: strolling around the ranch together daily.
Joey spends nights with ducks, chickens, and another goose but as soon as the gate opens in the morning, he joins Solomon for playtime. Patiently waiting for Solomon to finish breakfast, the duo then sets off on patrol, keeping an eye out for potential predators.
Joey and Solomon make a perfect team. Solomon’s sense of smell surpasses Joey’s, while Joey’s vision is sharper, creating a mutual reliance on each other’s unique skills.
“Joey has amazing night vision that dogs don’t possess,” Eckendorf mentioned. “Even before the guard dogs notice, Joey will first spot a hawk or an eagle and alarm, bringing the guard dogs out. They have learned to trust Joey. Almost every day, I see the guard dogs resting until Joey makes a certain type of alarm call, and then the guard dogs spring up, alert to possible threats.”
“They work together to ensure our safety. I am delighted to see such a strong bond and cooperation between two different species of animals,” Eckendorf added.
Eckendorf believes her ranch is a “glimpse of heaven,” where lions and lambs can lie down together. She marvels at God’s masterpiece of allowing different animals to live peacefully together.
She further stated that Joey and Solomon remain steadfast in their responsibilities of patrolling and protecting the ranch, as though they were born for this purpose.
Always vigilant, the pair enjoys wandering around the house, even checking family members’ cell phones. Protection is their motto.
During their time together, Joey and Solomon have successfully safeguarded Eckendorf’s ranch from various predators, including mountain lions and red-tailed hawks, ensuring no harm comes to anyone or the livestock.
“I am happy to live among these amazing wildlife creations of God without any harm to humans or animals,” Eckendorf expressed.
In addition to winning the owner’s heart, this adorable duo has captured the hearts of netizens, with their video garnering over 12 million views.
One video filmed by Eckendorf capturing Joey and Solomon walking towards her went viral on the internet. She shared more details about this video, mentioning she was barefoot running outside when she saw the duo approaching, prompting her to start recording.
The Bighorn Mountain Alpacas ranch is the primary business of the Eckendorf family. Eckendorf also runs a niche business selling custom clothing made from dog hair.
Some of her customers even send her hair from their deceased dogs, believing her creations serve as a beautiful testament to their pets’ lives.
“Often, these come from dogs that have passed away. They keep the shed hair and want something to remember their deceased dog,” Eckendorf stated.