A Canada Goose Named Arnold Was Injured—Then His Devoted Mate Came Looking for Him
As if a Canada goose named Arnold wasn’t charming enough, his devoted mate melted hearts when she showed up at an animal hospital searching for him.
Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable, Massachusetts, shared the heartwarming story in 2021, calling it “a first” for their facility.
“We often have people ask if they can visit the patients they dropped off,” they wrote on Facebook, “but today we had our first animal visitor! For the safety of our patients, we don’t usually allow visitations, but in this case, we had to make an exception!”
Arnold, a wild Canada goose, lives on a nearby pond with his lifelong mate. Normally, the pair kept to themselves, but one day, staff noticed Arnold struggling to walk, frequently losing his balance. Concerned, they captured him and brought him in for an examination.
A Loyal Mate Stands Watch
Veterinarians discovered Arnold had two open fractures on his foot, likely caused by a snapping turtle or another predator. His injuries were severe, requiring surgery to amputate one toe and suture another wound. The team prepped him for the procedure the following morning. That’s when something incredible happened.
“As we prepared to sedate Arnold, we heard a faint tapping at the clinic door,” the center wrote. “We turned to see that his mate had waddled onto the porch and was trying to break into our clinic! She had somehow found him and was visibly distressed that she couldn’t get inside. She remained there throughout the entire procedure, watching us work, never moving from the doorway.”
Once Arnold woke up, the staff decided to move him closer to the door so he and his mate could see each other.
“As soon as we opened the door and gave Arnold his oxygen, his mate immediately calmed down and began grooming him through the glass. They both seemed much more at ease in each other's presence.”
Reunited at Last
Arnold needed several weeks of treatment before he was strong enough to return to the wild. During that time, staff performed bandage changes in view of the doorway so his mate—who they affectionately named Amelia—could keep watch over him.
Canada geese mate for life, and when one is lost, the surviving partner often mourns in solitude. So, seeing Amelia's determination to find and comfort Arnold was a touching reminder of the strong bonds animals share.
According to CBS News, just weeks later, Arnold was fully healed and released back to the wild—where Amelia was waiting.