Ohio Family Lives with Deer Friend

cbs ^ | 12/10/09 | staff

[Nachum]

CBS) The words, "Yes, dear," have a whole new meaning in one Ohio household.

This family has a deer living inside their house.

Dillie the deer has lived with the Buteras in Canal Fulton, Ohio, for the past five years. Abandoned by her mother at birth, because the mother incorrectly thought she was blind, Dillie has since become part of another family -- a family of humans.

[Revelation 911]

now how could they discern that the female deer (mother) thought the fawn was blind?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The usual result of somebody going public with the illegal possession of a game animal as a pet is for the DNR to take it away and destroy it.

[TexasRepublic]

Can you housetrain a deer to use the cat box? Inquiring minds want to know.

[rwfromkansas]

That’s why you keep it quiet. If I had any exotic animals, I would certainly never tell anybody.

My dad had a raccoon he rescued as a “pet” when younger and when legal in Kansas.

It was the best pet ever, but in the wrong circumstances, they can be very dangerous.

I would never risk it, and in his case, it was a rescued animal, not one purchased from a breeder etc.

[jessduntno]

“now how could they discern that the female deer (mother) thought the fawn was blind?”

Dr. Doolittle made a house call and interpreted?

[agooga]

My 7 y.o. girl would love to have a deer as a pet. We see them all the time here in Burbank, but they are mule deer— and if I recall, mule deer will kick the living crap out of you if you get too close.

[Rebelbase]

They have it trained to poop on towels in one room.

[Doomonyou]

Can you housetrain a deer to use the cat box?

Of course not. You need a deer box.

Duh. : )

[I cannot think of a name]

Some band of idiots will soon be in a snit over this (PETA probably). “Cruelly keeping this animal from it's natural habitat.”

Yea, it eats pasta and swims in a pool. I'm certain it would rather be out in the woods dodging bullets, coyotes, and cars.

[Rebelbase]

The owner is a Veterinarian and she called it a “farm deer” as it was born in captivity.

[Outlaw Woman]

True but this is a vet and the deer was apparently being raised on a ‘deer farm’ for future harvesting. She may have gotten permission from the conservation department as well. I raised a ‘baby’ squirrel a few years back and spoke with the ‘head agent’ who gave me permission to raise it.

[DoughtyOne]

That’s my concern. Wait until the humane society jumps in here to set things straight.

Why should I care if this family has a pet deer? Evidently there’s no problem with disease.

[Hacklehead]

“They have it trained to poop on towels in one room.”

That’s still less poop in their house than if they watched Olbermann.

[DoughtyOne]

You’re probably referring to the game warden though aren’t you. They’ll be more than happy to fix things, I’m sure.

[fso301]

now how could they discern that the female deer (mother) thought the fawn was blind?

The guy is a veterinarian so, his guess is probably not too far off the mark.

The usual result of somebody going public with the illegal possession of a game animal as a pet is for the DNR to take it away and destroy it.

I would presume that as a veterinarian he would know that and probably has some exemption.

[Paladin2]

"My 7 y.o. girl would love to have a deer as a pet."

My 2 yr old Lab would like to have a deer for a pet too. Or a squirrel. Or a bunny. The cat is too independent and doesn't want to be the dog's pet.

[diverteach]

1501:31-19-04 Deer regulations.

(2) Take white-tailed deer from the wild in to captivity.

(B) It shall be unlawful to release or fail to prevent escape of any member of the family cervidae or their hybrids outside of a pen, fence or other enclosure.

(E) It shall be unlawful to obtain a live, captive white-tailed deer, or apply for a permit for commercial or noncommercial propagation of white-tailed deer or their hybrids without first having the holding facility, fence or enclosure inspected by the chief of the division of wildlife or their designee.

(2) To release any member of the family cervidae or their hybrids outside of a pen, fence or other enclosure.

Effective: 11/24/2008

[Frantzie]

She is cute. I am not sure about having her in the house all the time.

[giotto]

Or maybe a Deer John.

[giotto]

You need a deer box.

Or maybe a Deer John.

[Deo volente]

[Revelation 911]

because the mother incorrectly thought she was blind

read it again - it says the mother - not the vet

[wolfcreek]

Dillie...she’s what’s for dinner.

[fso301]

read it again - it says the mother - not the vet

I'm not sure what your point is. Based on the fawn's condition when the vet found it, the vet arrived at a determination that it had been abandoned by its mother because it had some condition with its eyes preventing it from following the mother.

Had the young fawn appeared healthy, the vet would have presumed the mother died thereby orphaning the fawn.

[DeFault User]

When I was a kid we had a fox squirrel that was “almost” a pet. She nested in a nail keg my father had put in a tall oak tree. We fed Ol’ Bess pecans and she would jump up on the screen door if she thought she wasn't getting her proper share. She had no problem sitting on our shoulder or knee to get her snacks but she objected to being touched otherwise. She raised a number of litters over the years, but none of her little ones were as tame as she was.

[Doomonyou]

My 2 yr old Lab would like to have a deer for a pet too. Or a squirrel. Or a bunny.

[Rebelbase]

(2) Take white-tailed deer from the wild in to captivity.
The deer was born in captivity.

(B) It shall be unlawful to release or fail to prevent escape of any member of the family cervidae or their hybrids outside of a pen, fence or other enclosure.
The deer was wearing an invisible fence collar.

(E) It shall be unlawful to obtain a live, captive white-tailed deer, or apply for a permit for commercial or noncommercial propagation of white-tailed deer or their hybrids without first having the holding facility, fence or enclosure inspected by the chief of the division of wildlife or their designee.
Grandfathered into this one, see dates below.

(2) To release any member of the family cervidae or their hybrids outside of a pen, fence or other enclosure.
Invisible fence collar.

Effective: 11/24/2008
They’ve had the deer since 2004.

[Outlaw Woman]

What a great story. Fond memories too huh? It was one of the sweetest experiences I ever had. His name was ‘Baby Boy’ and he also LOVED pecans! lol I used to cradle him like a baby and rub his little ears and he loved it. I did turn him loose after he was big enough and he came back for about 4 months and then went about making baby squirrels (I hope).

[TexasRepublic]

“You need a deer box.”

By golly, you’re a genius. Why didn’t I think of that?

[Pilated]

So it’s a feces/urine laced household. Don’t eat anything from this house at a potluck! Yes they are cute but they belong in the yard. Crazy adults don’t make it the right thing to do.

[mlizzy]

My 2 yr old Lab would like to have a deer for a pet too. Or a squirrel. Or a bunny. The cat is too independent and doesn't want to be the dog's pet.



Ah, ha ... I've got an idea for you. Just take in a "dorm dog" over the summer, and walla, when fall comes you just might hear that the university doesn't want it back and they're going to put it in a shelter ... and then you'll have a permanent friend for your lab ...

Speaking from experience, I now love the new addition ... (and so does our lab).

[submarinerswife]

Can you housetrain a deer to use the cat box? Inquiring minds want to know.

They said that she goes on towels that she has set down in her bedroom.

[Viking2002]

I've got a wild game marinade that Dillie would love. And I would love better.

[Paladin2]

Good picture of Black Labs.

Black Labs hardly return any light and are difficult to photograph with the automatic digital cameras of today (they do make a great black/dark blue color standard to select sock pairs in the dim light of the early morning though).

[mlizzy]

Black Labs hardly return any light and are difficult to photograph with the automatic digital cameras of today (they do make a great black/dark blue color standard to select sock pairs in the dim light of the early morning though).

Very funny! It's good to laugh!

[diverteach]

Touche’ my FRiend!

[Hot Tabasco]

Butera said Dillie just spills coffee cups and glasses every now and then.

My parents had a german shepherd who's tail was a one appendage wrecking ball..........Anything and everything on tables had to be removed or risk being swept onto the floor and broken by his wagging tail.....LOL!

[2111USMC]

Yep. Looks like about the same size as the one I put 20 gauge sabot slug through on Tuesday.

:)

[Paladin2]

I think my Lab brought me the other half of that bunny last winter while we were X-country skiing.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I hope you’re planning to eat it, and didn’t just kill it for *sport*.

[2111USMC]

It’s at the processing shop right now.

[twhitak]

now how could they discern that the female deer (mother) thought the fawn was blind?

Maybe she was wearing dark glasses.

[Revelation 911]

i hadnt considered that

[Viking2002]

Speaking of which, one of my wife's minions at work - older, retired fella - went hunting on his property last weekend and took a 6-point buck. Today he gave her a 3 lb. venison roast, already marinating in a gallon freezer bag. It'll go good with the grilled duck breast and wild rice pilaf I have planned for dinner tomorrow evening.

[2111USMC]

Sounds good!

[Viking2002]

He's a good guy. Owns a big piece of property. During the late summer, he always sends her home with big bags of peppers, squash, cucumbers, and whatnot from his garden. Which is a good thing - I've gardened all my life, but on the property we own, I can't even grow dirt. LOL

[2111USMC]

This is my first deer. Just picked up the venison tonight. I forget what all the cuts were he recommended. I know I got backstraps and loins, and a whole bunch of 1-lb packages of ground deer burger. I had a choice of plain or adding 10% beef or pork fat. I went with the pork fat.

The kids and wife are actually excited about trying it!

(Need to start looking up some recipes.)

[19th LA Inf]

We get venison now and then from the guy who hunts on our place, and backstrap is easy to fix and delicious. We have marinated it in Dr Pepper, cut it crosswise in slices about 1/2 inch thick, seasoned, floured and and pan broiled it. Only needs a couple of minutes in a hot skillet, but a meat thermometer is recommended for safety, same temps as beef or pork (about 160F).

[2111USMC]

That sounds tasty.

Dr Pepper, eh? I’ll be darned.

I’m not really the cook around here, but my wife likes to try new things.