Dr Bridget Newman at Gracemere Veterinary Surgery treats local favourite Cedric the goose

A much-loved Gracemere community goose has undergone emergency surgery after swallowing an object which could have been deadly. Check out the X-ray here.

He’s a much-loved member of the Gracemere community, but residents were left shocked when one of their favourite feathered friends was rushed to the vet on Monday.

The Cedric Archer Park goose, who some know as Cedric, was taken to Gracemere Veterinary Surgery after he was seen with a length of fishing line hanging out of his mouth.

But that wasn’t all Dr Bridget Newman found when they X-rayed the goose.

“We anaesthetised him and didn’t find a hook, but unfortunately we did find a slug where he, at some stage, had been shot with a slug gun,” she said.

Cedric, the Cedric Archer Park goose, is expected to make a good recovery and is being rehabilitated at 4 Mile Farm where he will be known as Honky Tonk.

“We removed quite a large volume of fishing line and kept him in for 24 hours and he’s now being rehabilitated at 4 Mile Farm where he will hopefully make a full recovery, but we don’t know how much damage was done to his intestines.”

Dr Newman said animals swallowing fishing line was something more commonly seen closer to the coast.

“Fishing line is made from nylon so it doesn’t biodegrade,” she said.

“When animals swallow it they can’t eat so they either starve or it perforates which is sad, hooks also usually have bait on the end which birds are attracted to so it’s quite careless.

A x-ray found no hook, but did find Cedric had been shot with a slug gun at one stage.

“Usually expect to see it closer to the coast so it’s sad it happened at our local park, and it’s sad someone felt the need to shoot him at some point, it’s just blatant animal cruelty.”

Dr Newman said the slug shouldn’t affect Cedric and he was expected to make a full recovery.

She said she spoke to 4 Mile Farm’s Nicky Dobson on Wednesday night who said Cedric was doing well.

“She said he was eating and drinking and they’ve named him Honky Tonk, he’s settling in really well,” Dr Newman said.

Cedric is expected to make a good recovery, but time will tell if the fishing line did damage to his intestines.

“He’s got another goose coming to meet him today (Thursday), so we should know over the next few weeks if he’ll make a full recovery.”

Dr Newman said it was nice to see how much the Gracemere community cared for its local animals.

“Everyone has a story for him, or a different name for him,” she said.

“One of the things I really love about being a vet in Gracemere is being part of a strong community and a community where people do the right thing when it comes to their animals.”

Dr Newman encouraged anyone who sees an animal out and about that is hurt to catch it, if it is safe to do so, and take it to your local vet.