A DEAR DEER
I have always known that there is an inexplicable bond between humans and animals—something apart from the obvious love we feel for our pets.
Many years ago, our son, Pete, was living alone in his log home on twenty wooded acres when he looked out his kitchen window in the early morning to see a small deer staring back at him. The deer was bleeding from an angry gash on its hindquarter, extending down the right back leg. Pete knew he had to do something because coyotes, cougars, and bears frequented the area.
He went outside and slowly approached the young doe. To his surprise, she came to meet him and followed him back into the house. Now what? She sniffed around the premises while he got on the phone to Sarvey Wildlife Care Center in Arlington, WA. The director said they would come as soon as possible, but it might take a few hours.
That’s when we got the phone call. Pete told his dad what had happened and asked for backup. My husband was on his way within minutes. Father and son raided the refrigerator and offered all the salad material therein. The deer declined but followed them like a puppy around the house.
Two hours later, the rescue van pulled up. The little deer became agitated and made an awkward leap over the couch—no harm done. She was expertly tranquilized and gently loaded in the van to be taken for treatment and evaluation.
I was at home and missed the whole amazing encounter, so later Pete called Sarvey and asked if we could see the deer. They agreed but told us we must view her from a distance so she would not be any more imprinted by human contact. They always try to release animals back into the wild if they can. We tiptoed on a path far above the fenced pasture where she was contentedly grazing with another deer.
All of a sudden, she put up her head, sniffed the air and walked up the path straight toward Pete. We had been warned that, under any circumstances, we must not touch her, and as hard as it was, we didn’t. We left her in Sarvey’s care, likely to spend the rest of her days in that peaceful pasture.
Pat D’Amico is a columnist with Northwest Prime Time, sometimes a Sharing Stories author, and sometimes friend to a deer.
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