Posted 8:46 am Friday, June 22, 2012
Send to Kindle
UPDATE: Injured Fawn Named 'John Deer'
Updated Friday, June 22, 2012 at 8:46 a.m. CDT
Readers of TylerPaper.com and the newspaper's Facebook page have spoken, and an injured fawn has a new name as a result.
In a Thursday story on TylerPaper.com, readers were invited to submit suggestions for the name of the fawn buck, and the Henderson veterinarian who is taking care of the animal agreed to adopt the name the readers chose.
Several names were suggested, and among them, John Deer, suggested by reader John Moore of Whitehouse, received the most Facebook likes from fellow readers.
Other names suggested included Pippin, Lucky, Bambi, Leonidas, Hope, Pippie, Bambo, Sargeant, Achilles, Summer, Percy, Darby, Sprinkles, Prancer, Fondheart, Jethro, Dallas, Fonzie and Spot.
--------------------------------------------------------
In a Thursday story on TylerPaper.com, readers were invited to submit suggestions for the name of the fawn buck, and the Henderson veterinarian who is taking care of the animal agreed to adopt the name the readers chose.
Several names were suggested, and among them, John Deer, suggested by reader John Moore of Whitehouse, received the most Facebook likes from fellow readers.
Other names suggested included Pippin, Lucky, Bambi, Leonidas, Hope, Pippie, Bambo, Sargeant, Achilles, Summer, Percy, Darby, Sprinkles, Prancer, Fondheart, Jethro, Dallas, Fonzie and Spot.
--------------------------------------------------------
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
HENDERSON -- Cradling a young buck in her arms, Henderson veterinarian Mary Evelyn Points said the deer rescued by a Smith County Sheriff's deputy and a private resident had a severely fractured leg -- a fracture she said could prove life-threatening.
Staff Writer
HENDERSON -- Cradling a young buck in her arms, Henderson veterinarian Mary Evelyn Points said the deer rescued by a Smith County Sheriff's deputy and a private resident had a severely fractured leg -- a fracture she said could prove life-threatening.
But right now the staff of the clinic is taking care of the buck and bottle feeding him.
"The fracture will heal, that much I am sure of, but because of where the fracture is he has a two in 10 chance of being able to be released in the wild," she said.
Dr. Points said the fracture is near the animal's ankle and because of the location she is afraid the buck would not be able to use the leg to make it in the wild once released.
"We're doing everything we can to help him and he definitely has age on his side as he is only about 2 to 4 weeks old. I love it when animals prove me wrong and that is what we're hoping for in this case," she said.
The plan was to perform an hourlong surgery to place pins where the bones were broken to stabilize the area. He then will be taken to a location near Henderson where attempts will be made to rehabilitate the deer.
The buck was rescued Wednesday afternoon by Smith County Sheriff's Sgt. Gary Hinshaw and passing motorist Robert Quates after it was hit by a car.
Hinshaw and Quates calmed the fawn until an animal control officer could take the fawn to the Henderson Animal Care Clinic.
Dr. Points, who took the animal home to watch it overnight, said the buck is a "heart stealer" that is being fawned over by the clinic staff.
She said if not for the efforts of Quates and Hinshaw, the little buck would have more than likely succumbed to his injuries.
"Yeah, he's a handsome little guy, and everyone already loves him. And right now, he's hanging in there," she said beaming. "How could you not love him, just look at that face."
Unfortunately, Dr. Points said no one in the area, including Caldwell Zoo, is taking bucks at this time.
"We are really pulling for the little guy," she said.
Dr. Points warned the public about approaching deer in the wild.
She said fawns will sometimes be spotted without their mothers, but they should be left alone because the mother would certainly be close by.
"If they are not injured, then you should just leave them alone; their mother is off doing her thing but is probably pretty close by," she said.
Dr. Point said her clinic along with the rehabilitator would pay for the costs associated with the treatment for the buck.
Hinshaw said his cellphone had been ringing continuously Thursday with people calling to talk about the deer.
"It's been crazy. Everybody wants to know about the deer," he said laughing.
Online voting occurred Thursday at tylerpaper.com for a name for the buck and the winning name will be posted Friday morning.
The Tyler Morning Telegraph will continue following this story and will post updates as they become available.
The Tyler Morning Telegraph will continue following this story and will post updates as they become available.
