Against all odds and relieved of the arrow that had pierced his chest and inspired his name, Pierce the goose was released to Cook Pond Tuesday, healthy enough to swim and even fly once more.

The Cape Wildlife Center, which cared for the wounded goose since its capture on April 3, said the now-celebrity goose is fully recovered from its most recent injuries and ready to resume life on the pond. They released Pierce in the vicinity of the location where he was captured in hopes that he and his mate might reunite.

Pierce wasted little time after being freed from his carrier. He set off down to the water and flew directly over to a nearby cove that, his caretakers speculated, seemed familiar to him.

“Pierce” the Canada goose is now back in the wild,” declared Cape Wildlife Center Executive Director Dr. Zak Mertz.

“Residents had spotted him at a local pond with an arrow in his chest. He was rescued by a biologist at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

“He survived the surgery to remove the arrow and successfully completed chelation therapy to remove toxic levels of lead from his system. As he healed, the vet care team gave him daily swims to encourage waterproofing and he was eventually moved to a large outdoor enclosure to build up his strength and re-acclimate to being outdoors. Now five weeks later, he was given the all clear to return home.

“Pierce” the goose was almost killed by human actions, but today he was saved because of human kindness. Thank you for following his story and support for his recovery!”

Dr. Mertz said the goose’s recovery was remarkable.

Upon arrival at the center, Pierce underwent a 45-minute surgery to remove the arrow and repair his wounds, a procedure headed by veterinarian Dr. Priya Patel.

Dr. Meretz said the wound had been aggravated by the goose’s movements and stress during the more than two weeks since it had been shot.

At one point during the surgery, the goose’s vital signs “crashed,” forcing the team to ease up on anesthesia and perform what amounted to CPR. The goose’s condition was described as critical after the surgery. A week later he had improved to “guarded.”

When his condition finally took a turn for the better and he began to regain lost weight, Pierce was able to exercise in a pool at the center.

Just surviving the episode is an accomplishment, Dr. Mertz said. That the goose regained the ability to fly is especially amazing given the damage done to its pectoral muscles.

Shot in Tiverton

The first sighting of Pierce was reported to Tiverton Police at 5:24 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 — report of a goose shot with an arrow in the north parking lot of Bourne Mill Apartments, just south of Cook Pond. Tiverton Police have not been able to identify the shooter.

Cook Pond may be home, but an estimated five years of life there has been difficult for the goose.

In addition to the arrow shot through the pectoral muscles, the surgical team discovered that the goose had previously been shot by an Airsoft pellet. That pellet has not been removed.

Pierce was also suffering from significant lead poisoning (unrelated to the arrow — he said many Canada geese here have elevated lead levels), malnutrition, dehydration, infection and more. And x-rays revealed that he had once broken a leg.

Dr. Mertz said Pierce has become one of the center’s foremost celebrity patients. Arrow shootings are unusual but not unheard of, he added. Another goose in the center’s care had been shot in the head by an arrow.

The Cape Wildlife Center relies on donations for much of its funding. Its website —http://capewildlifecenter.com — states: Your gift in any amount is appreciated. Here are a few examples of how your gift will make a difference to the 2,000 animals we serve every year.  Thank you!

Amount:

  $25 - will help pay for part of the cost of treating a bird affected by an oil spill

  $50 - supports the cost of fixing a broken shell of a turtle, hit by a car

  $75 - will help cover the cost of food for one orphaned baby song bird

  $100 - will cover blood cleaning treatment of a swan with lead poisoning

  $250 - will help cover the cost it takes to raise and inoculate an orphaned baby raccoon

  $500 - will help pay for the care, diagnostics and supplies to fix the fractured leg of a fox

  $1,000 - can help cover the surgery and care of a waterfowl that swallowed a fishing hook