Suit Planned in Deer Custody Case
A lawyer for an Oregon family who nursed a deformed deer back to health after finding her as a fawn on a road five years ago says his clients are considering a lawsuit to regain custody of the animal.
The pet deer, known as Snowball, was taken about a month ago along with her offspring, Bucky, by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, which is responsible for dealing with the state’s wild animals. It plans to release her in an ODFW-licensed elk ranch, where she will receive the lifelong care that she needs for her disabilities, reports KGW, a Portland, Ore., television station, on its Web site. It is illegal for private individuals to keep deer as pets, and ODFW reportedly released Bucky back into the wild last week.
“We are delighted to be able to provide a home for the doe,” says Alan Ross, one of the owners of the 52-acre elk preserve. “We want to give her the best care we can on our ranch.”
However, Portland attorney Geordy Duckler says the Molalla family who saved Snowball plans to sue Monday in Clackamas County Circuit Court in an effort to regain custody of their pet doe. That is because they feel she will be better cared for with them. “It’s a very odd deal,” Duckler tells the Portland Oregonian. “This animal is owned by the state, but a private commercial enterprise is going to be benefiting from it. They’re going to get tourist dollars.”
