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Animal Rights
Indiana Couple Faces Jail, Fines, for Rescuing Dying Baby Deer
A couple from Indiana saved an injured fawn over two years ago when they found her nearly dead from coyote bites.
While on patrol, Connersville police officer Jeff Counceller said he discovered her curled up on a neighbor's front porch. She was unable to stand.
Counceller called his wife, a registered nurse, so she could help it as he did not have time. His wife approached the deer, and the deer responded by licking her hands.
They didn't know it at the time, but bringing in a nearly dead animal is illegal according to Indiana's Department of Natural Resources, and is punishable by fines and jail time.
"I could feel all of the open wounds all along her back side and she wouldn't stand up," Jennifer Counceller said.
The deer had puncture wounds along her hips and maggots were living in it. She said the deer would have died if they left it.
The DNR said that's what should have happened. They told them to take the animal out into the woods and leave it there, allowing it to die.
"She would have laid there and starved to death and had a miserable death," Jennifer said.
Instead of taking her back to the woods, they opted to save her and take her to their 17-acre farm. They started caring for her and gave her a small bottle of goats milk. They called her "Little Orphan Dani."
Now, the family faces charges after a six-month stressful investigation done by the department, including half a dozen visits to their home.
The DNR said it was illegal to keep the deer; a misdemeanor offense with a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail.
The department said the only solution was to euthanize the deer, saying that the deer was a safety threat to humans and couldn't be released into the wild.
On the day of Little Orphan Dani's scheduled execution, she was no where to be found. Reports indicate that Jennifer Counceller's 80-year-old father released the deer in the morning before it could be euthanized, but no one can prove it.
The Councellor's have no regrets about what they did.
"No matter what the law is, we did what was right for the animal," Jennifer said. She and her husband deny having anything to do with letting the animal free, but say anyone could have done it.
"She was very popular," Jeff said.
They plan to fight the alleged crime, even though court fees could reach ten times the threatened fine.
"Sometimes, it's not always about the DNR laws," Jeff said. "Sometimes it's about common sense and what's right in God's eyes. And that's what I'm going to stand for."
They have created a Facebook page and placed a petition on change.org.
The case may go to court in February for a jury trial.
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Comments
Thanks to all on this site
Thanks to all on this site who showed your support for this kind couple & little fawn, Orphan Dani. After review of the case, Governor Mike Pence has asked the DNR to reevaluate the charges against the couple. Of course, with the petitions circulating and emails and letters flooding his and other inboxes and mail boxes it comes as no surprise that he would find the need to review the case in further detail. As a result of the review, the DNR states that they will ask for a dismissal of the charges. For Little Orphan Dani, Jeff and Jennifer Counceller, and all of the supporters world wide, this is a huge success.
Do not underestimate the power of united American voters. The Internet is a great tool that can benefit us all but any tool can become a weapon in the wrong hands. If we wish to keep the Net in the US uncensored we will have to be responsible, but skeptical users. There is no doubt that information changes our world & our lives. Thanks for your help in giving this story a happy ending.
"Our bounds! You're outside
"Our bounds! You're outside them! Get back in there! ARRRGHABIBBLE!"
Summary of state asshats encountering anybody coloring outside of the lines.
They should have left the
They should have left the deer to die. We have no business meddling in natural selection. The deer (prey) was attacked by some other animal (predator), the way things happen in nature. The laws are probably really meant to protect people from wild animals. Contrary to popular belief, cute little deer (and other "cute") WILD animals can carry disease and parasites. Their attitude toward humans is inconsistent no matter how benevolent our actions toward the animal. No telling how the animal would react to people's attention when returned to health. Some ASSUME it will be grateful, when that may not be the case at all. Our instincts make some of us have nurturing feelings for "cute" animals. We "rescue" cute helpless baby birds birds that have "fallen" out of the nest, and other wild animals we have no business messing with. Wild animals are not people or domestic pets. They live by different rules.
I do agree with you in many
I do agree with you in many instances we should just let nature be. But in this case they already saved the deer. I just can't see giving the little deer the death penalty. I agree maybe they shouldn't have saved it, but they did, so maybe just fine them and teach others the correct thing to do? I've seen similar situations in upstate NY, people try keeping them as pets, never goes well. But killing the deer after the fact seems pointless. That one deer isn't going to put a dent in the population. But freeing the little guy isn't great either, because it might not know how to find food. Farm maybe?
There is logic in what you
There is logic in what you say. We have global warming, staving people, is it the evil automobile and industry? In part yes, but you can boil it all down to over population that is only getting worse. Too many people, no more land mass to put them on or grow food on and the land mass being further polluted by the day. Solution? Let nature take it course. Allow only the strong to survive. You get hurt and can't help yourself...too tough.
Tough Love and a stronger planet.
This is tongue in cheek but in reality may actually be necessary at some point (if not right now). For how long can be be adding additional billions of people to a confined area to live on and dispose of waste without some horrible eventuality? How long before some government tells certain people...sorry but you are not allowed to reproduce...stand in line to get fixed.
However, we have to live together and social skills and compassion are important. If that just evaporates, social problems and wars will just become more common and make life more miserable.
@Baseman, you have a valid
@Baseman, you have a valid point. Millions of people are trying to find an alternatives to "survival of the fittest", while millions of others refuse to tax their brains at all. The brainless among us will say they trust in God, while stockpiling weapons to assure that they can always take what they want & need to survive. But I'd bet on the survival of the most intelligent every time.
You are an idiot!!!! I hope
You are an idiot!!!! I hope you never need any help as I am in firm belief of "allowing " people to help themselves. I guess you have never needed medical attention either. These people are hero's and it is those, as yourself, who deserve ridicule and disdain!! Keep your opinion to yourself if you aren't willing to step up!!
Bite me, bitch. Stick to the
Bite me, bitch. Stick to the issues.
DUHHHHH! That IS the issue
DUHHHHH! That IS the issue you Moron!!!
@ redgangrene In evolutionary
@ redgangrene
In evolutionary terms, cuteness is just a genetically-determined characteristic that confers selective advantage on certain specimens in populations, helping to determine the future direction of the evolution of the species. Conceivably, adaptive radiation could one day give rise to an observable speciation event (God knows the evolutionists need a few of *them* to cite here), in which a single species of slightly cute mammals split into two distinct but similar species, an extremely cute species that lived near humans who kept rescuing them after they had been attacked by predators, and a not-so-cute-after-all species out in the wilderness, which could run faster.
The approach you suggest: should it also apply to washed-up whales? Should these be left to die on popular tourist beaches? Should their carcasses then be left to rot there?
@John Allman Washed up whales
@John Allman
Washed up whales don't wander out onto the highway looking for food from the very nice humans.
I'm a wuss, I admit. I have a cat and a dog, both strays that no one wanted and that I couldn't stand to see euthanized. That said, I can understand why there are restrictions about well intentioned intervention with wild animals. It changes the animal's natural instinct to fear humans and can lead to situations that put people in peril.
If states are going to have laws forbidding people to interfere in situations like this, then I believe they should have trained professionals that people can contact who could either intervene in the safest way possible or end the animal's suffering.
~ Cyn, the Cynfully Cynical
@ Cyn "If states are going to
@ Cyn
"If states are going to have laws forbidding people to interfere in situations like this, then I believe they should have trained professionals that people can contact who could either intervene in the safest way possible or end the animal's suffering."
Isn't this just another of those everyday contingencies for which the right to bear arms remains necessary?
"If states are going to have laws forbidding people to interfere in situations ..., then I believe they should have trained professionals that people can contact who could either intervene in the safest way possible or end the ... suffering."
You've just given me an idea. Why not adopt this approach in all the situations in which a gun would be useful? Why not get rid of the right to bear arms, and have an armed and trained police force instead?
Are you beginning to see how everything is connected to everything else, on Opposing Views?
Heartless dick.
Heartless dick.
Realist dick, thank you, ya
Realist dick, thank you, ya pussy. Instead of calling names, why not contribute something useful.
The Councellors should be
The Councellors should be commended for what they did. I'm glad they did what they did and I hope the DNR NEVER finds the deer. The sad part is after all this little deer has been through, if the DNR doesn't kill it, a hunter probably will. Some laws are just plain wrong and need to be changed. The people of Indiana need to petition their congressman to change these ridiculous laws. This case should never go to court but I'm sure it will. I just hope the judge is a fair and compassionate man who can look beyond the law to recognize that the right thing was done and rule in favor of the Councellors.
You may want to check out
You may want to check out your own State's laws. I know Florida's DNR has the same laws in this regard as Indiana. It maybe the same in many States. We are seen bureaucratic government agencies/departments over extending their mandates. It is up to the citizens of each State to expose unjust & invasive laws and have them revoked. The article below exposes some of the abuses we are seeing : http://www.thedailycrux.com/Post/42169/one-indiana-couple-faces-60-days-in-jail-for-an-unbelievable-offense
Now there's a reliable,
Now there's a reliable, unbiased news source.
Compassion like this shown by
Compassion like this shown by the Councellors should be acknowledged & rewarded. I will do what I can to see that Indiana's DNR laws are changed. My hope is that other Connorville residents will give Little Dani sanctuary & protect it from the DNR and deer hunters. This is an online petition to the Indiana State authorities to stop the prosecution of Mr & Mrs Councellor. Please consider signing it. http://www.change.org/petitions/brian-a-clark-drop-charges-against-connersville-police-officer-and-his-wife
What is the statute, the
What is the statute, the offence, and the purpose of the statute creating the offence?
DNR = Damn Near Russia Back
DNR = Damn Near Russia
Back in Wisconsin, our local DNR warden was a real asshole. Rumor has it, he was found shot and strung up in the woods. The asshole must have screwed with the wrong deer hunter! lol Sounds like the Indiana DNR is just as bad. Jerks!
What a terrible shame!! :)
What a terrible shame!! :)
The wrong deer hunter that
The wrong deer hunter that broke the law? A poacher perhaps? Was he an asshole for enforcing the law?
Um, you didn't know this
Um, you didn't know this guy...
True, I apologize. In my
True, I apologize. In my experience, though, comments like that are usually directed towards law enforcement when they are exercising their authority to uphold the law, and the recipient of that enforcement (and his friends) is pissed that he got caught.
Law enforcement is OUT of
Law enforcement is OUT of Control in the USA! Time to rein those good ole boys in and if a few perish , so be it. Becoming a "PUBLIC SERVANT" doesn't give you the right to flex your muscles and run rough shod over the general public. Time to take this country BACK!!