A DEER which was rescued from the womb of its mother after she was hit and killed by a car has been put down.
The animal was rescued in May and was initially cared for by staff at the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre near Nantwich.
Staff at the wildlife centre hand-fed him goat's milk before he was weaned on to solid food.
A month later he was taken to another wildlife centre at East Winch in Norfolk.
He was allowed to roam in numerous paddocks so he could graze on vegetation similar to what he would need in the wild.
But when the deer was released into the wild on October 20, he was unable to cope.
RSPCA staff caught him and put him down.
"He wasn't behaving how wild animals do," said RSPCA spokeswoman Kayta Mira.
"He was too tame. He was running up to cars and there were dogs he wasn't running away from."
But the British Deer Society has condemned the actions of the RSPCA.
Spokesman David Kenyon said it was irresponsible to bring up a deer and then expect it to go back into the wild.
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Sad-end-real-life-Bambi/article-2810564-detail/article.html
COMMENTS
After reading this story I'm changing my will. I'm 4 euros, staffs
I've stopped giving to the RSPCA and PDSA because of their double standards. This is a terrible outcome, Shame on you RSPCA you'll not get another penny out of me or any of my family. up'anelyduck, 'anley
I stopped donating cash to this organisation because of these very policies, it seems to be more of a get off the street and kill it organisation. 3 experiences dealing with this bunch of clowns were eye opening. First was when I reported from work that an allotment owner in Fenton was actually training his fighting pit bull by hanging a live chicken just out of reach for it to jump at, got told it was not a problem of cruelty and was our responsibility.
Second was a song thrush that had its foot caught in a trap, took to Stapeley they said thank you there was nothing they could do and it would be humanely destroyed, just asked were they not going to take a look, only we had dressed the wound and kept the bird alive for several days already, it was destroyed.
And finally all those rescued dogs and cats that if not found a home in a VERY short time period, or who are too ill or aged are all destroyed.
So a fawn in distress etc and releasedand then recaptured, how much admin time would it have taken to find it a home? Still we must rest assured that some Inspector of the RSPCA who is not a veggie will be dining well no doubt. Lazarus, North Staffs
HOW DISGUSTING THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, BUT I AM NOT SURPRISED THE R.S.P.C.A. IS NOT ALL THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE IT TO BE , THEY JUST TURNED IT OUT TO DIE.NOT A LOT OF CARE WENT IN TO IT. SHEILA, LONGTON
A few years ago the RSPCA prosecuted a local police officer because he killed a cat which had been badly injured in a collision with a car. He said he'd done this to put the cat out of its misery. Thankfully common sense prevailed and he was acquitted.
So how can the same RSPCA justify this barbarism?
That's the last time I put money into one of their collection boxes. J, Staffs
Of course he couldn't cope being young & hand-reared, but given time to re-adapt, who knows.
Other than that, the only decent thing would've been re-homing to a safari park or animal sanctuary. Shameful. Ivan, Staffs
I agree with previous comments. RSPCA should hang their heads in shame. There would of been plenty of other options to choose from instead of putting a healthy animal down. Absolute disgrace!!!!! How can the RSPCA claim to care for animals? SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!! A, Stoke
This article has compleatley changed my views on the RSPCA this is disgusting. it pretty obvious to anyone that if you hand reer an animal that should be in the wild, it would not take to the wild...its wrong on a huge scale that this animal has been put down. i think the RSPCA are at a huge fault on this and after reading this i would hope to god none of my own animals ever have to have anything to do with the RSPCA whoever it was that made this decision should have all authority to take an animals life removed i could name places off the top of my head that would hapilly take a healthy young offspring on and it would have a perfectly good life. this is shocking and disgracefull of the RSPCA. shocked, Stoke On Trent
"He wasn't behaving as wild animals do" said RSPCA spokeswoman Kayta Mira.
That's because he wasn't a wild animal, he'd been reared by humans from birth. Chucking a tame animal out into the wild and expecting it to behave as a wild animal is as bad as capturing a wild animal and expecting it to behave like a domestic pet.
The RSPCA raised this animal and had a duty of care to maintain it in the state that they had raised it to. Friends of mine did the same with a red deer fawn, she is happy now roaming the farm with other farm animals and horses and interacting with the people she has always known. There are plenty of people out there who would have been capable of looking after that animal. The RSPCA is getting as bad as PETA who "euthanase" (what a nice word) nearly all the animals entrusted to them for safekeeping. Sarah, Surrey
I can't believe I'm reading this!..... A healthy animal was put down, that is absolutely disgusting. You're telling me you couldn't find a home for it?? You kept this animal alive when he lost his mum, you must have known that by hand rearing it, it would not be able to go in the wild again, so why did you bother rearing the poor thing just to kill it anyway?????!!!!!!!!!!!!! Animal Lover, Staffs
Call yourselves animal lovers you are just sick If the deer couldnt of survived in the wild you should of found another home for him/her im sure there are plenty of zoo`s that would have gladly taken the poor deer in! Doctor Death.., The Cross..
Shame on you RSPCA. There must have been a better option than killing a healthy animal. Another sanctury, petting zoo, anything would have been better than death. Disgraceful! Stan, Burslem