Gilbert the gander, and Sara the dog, used to be enemies but now they're best friends.

After Gilbert lost his mate Georgia tragically to a pack of dogs at their home in Warwick, he had nowhere to turn, no one to protect, and no one to love until he befriended Sara.

Now the two are inseparable.

The animal's owner Mrs. Moyra Benbow said the eight-year-old gander was miserable after his mate died.

"I believe that the same dogs that killed our neighbour Mrs. Elizabeth Wingate's chickens on March 14 were the same dogs that came into our yard and killed our goose and turkey,'' Mrs. Benbow said.

"The goose had her head bitten off and the turkey was bitten on its back.

Remarkably the gander got away after the dogs bit him on the head.

"He was in a lot of shock but he recovered from the attack.'' Mrs. Benbow added that although Gilbert was feeling better he had lost his fierceness with the other animals, including eight-year-old Dobermann/Sheppard mix Sara, who he would chase away and often hiss at.

After he and Sara became friends it was not uncommon for Mrs. Benbow's husband Colin to find them nestled together on the floor of their bedroom sleeping.

"Sara comes in the house through her dog flap on the door and the gander follows her -- the only bad thing is that he is not house trained,'' Mrs.

Benbow said.

She added: "I think Gilbert was just lonely and they pair. He follows the dog everywhere and just lays beside her, she doesn't mind.'' However, even though the dog and the gander have developed this friendship, Mrs. Benbow is still searching for another goose for Gilbert.

ANIMAL LOVE -- Gilbert the gander keeps a close eye on his new buddy Sara.