The 'Unconditional Love' This Bird Shares With Retiree Might Just Give You Goosebumps

It's a story that just might give you goosebumps.

Former salesman Dominic Ehrler has shared a special relationship with a Los Angeles goose, ever since the bird took a strange liking to him at a park years ago.

Image source: Screen grab via YouTube

While other geese were flocking together, Mario instead gravitated toward Ehrler and refused to leave his side.

[sharequote align="center"]"They walk around the park together like they are in love."[/sharequote]

"They walk around the park together like they are in love," one woman told CBS News, watching the two take a stroll.

Image source: Screen grab via YouTube

And, while Ehrler had never fed the goose or tried to court him, Mario would follow him everywhere — even taking to flight and gliding next to him when Ehrler tried to leave the park on his scooter.

Image source: Screen grab via YouTube

After the CBS Evening News first aired a story on Mario's affection for the retiree years ago, city officials took the goose from the park and placed him in a zoo for the animal's protection.

Now Ehrler visits the goose morning after morning, spending hours with him. He's done so for the past three years, hardly missing a day.

"He knows I'm his friend," he told CBS News. "When you realize than an animal has this unconditional love for you, what do you do?"

Image source: Screen grab via YouTube

The special relationship the two have shared has changed Ehrler forever.

"I used to think birds were dumb," the man told CBS News. "This has changed all that."

In fact, what Ehrler formerly marketed is a shocker given his friendship with Mario.

"I used to sell rotisseries," he admitted, joking that he is now atoning for his sins by taking care of Mario.

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Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

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