A Surprise Visitor

Several of the children have been sick with a stomach virus the last few days, so we stayed home from church today. Aaron was walking to the road to get the paper when he noticed a small buck stuck in the fence on the side of our property. Yesterday we noticed something white out there, but I assumed it was a shopping bag that had blown against the fence.

Aaron quietly got Jeff and Jordan. He didn't want Jackson and Kaelan running out and frightening the deer any more than he was. They bundled up and tried to get the deer untangled from the fence. After several minutes, they were successful but the deer was hurt. Its leg had been cut down to the bone and appeared to be broken. Jordan carried the deer up to the house and everyone was able to get a close-up look.

The girls thought Jeff should try to bandage the leg or call the vet. Jackson thought, "Yeah!! I have a pet!" Jeff was thinking he would have to shoot it to put it out of its misery. Finally, they took it out to the barn to see how it would do. Later, the deer left, hobbling on 3 legs. Who knows how it will survive.

My children are getting alot of experience taking care of sick or injured animals lately. Our "old gray mare" has some sort of cyst that looks horrible and the pony has to have her ears doctored daily. The vet has been out here looking them both over and giving Jeff directions as to their care. I don't think we are meant to have animals. After the deer left, Kaelan told her daddy that the deer would probably have tasted good salted and smoked. She is all heart!!