A decision has been made in the case of the Indiana couple who rescued and took care of a fawn for nearly two years without a permit. This story made national headlines after a social media campaign started to help the couple who was facing up to 60 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
In my earlier article, I had written how Little Orphan Dani was to be seized last summer after officials found Jeff and Jennifer Counceller keeping her in their backyard. Because they lacked a permit as required by law, officials planned to remove and destroy Dani last year. On that fateful day, miraculously Little Orphan Dani was nowhere to be found. How she escaped remains a mystery.
The Counceller’s were facing a March trial date. Because of the social media outcry, an online petition and the nationwide media attention this story elicited, the Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence, has decided the Counceller’s will not go to jail. Whether they will be fined is not clear.
According to the Counceller’s, Little Orphan Dani, comes back to visit her old home with her new deer friends from time to time. It appears she has adjusted to life in the wild just fine.
It looks like the buck stops here or should I say doe. Little Orphan Dani is free as are the Counceller’s.
I saw that coming! Social media can be a real good thing to help others but in the wrong hands, it can also be a dangerous tool to hurt animals. Beware!
I’m so happy that Little Orphan Dani is free. I don’t know why associations like the game commission are intent on killing wildlife instead of helping the animals.
In this case, I’m not sure I buy this couple’s story about wanting to raise it until she was able to live on her own. Dani was nearly two years old. She was ready at one year of age to live in the wild. Doesn’t quite add up but I don’t begrudge them since they were taking care of her.
At least she’s free. They did break the law but I don’t see having to go to prison when thugs are shooting and killing people. Prisons are already too full. They didn’t belong in prison and the governor did the right thing even if he gave in due to social media pressure.
I do believe they should be fined. They didn’t have a permit and they knew they needed that, from what I heard but who knows if that’s correct. Can’t always believe what you read.
Not so much worried about their case. So happy the little female deer is ok. She didn’t deserve to die. They wanted to kill the deer who did nothing wrong and the other report on cats wants to kill all feral cats. What’s going on here? These animals are innocent and humans want to kill them.
Glad Dani is free to be a doe. Only hope she doesn’t killed during hunting season.
succumbed to social media pressure. They didn’t have a permit. they should at least be fined.
permit. they should at least be fined.
This time everything worked out. But what about the countless cases that turn out fines, humiliating arrests, and sometimes heart breaking confiscation of the animal the person is trying to save! Rehabilitation centers are great, but not everyone has access to one near them. The case of the house finch was overkill. To put that lady through what they did was abuse of power by the Game Commission. With the help of the internet you can research how to help some simple cases of injured animals. But to save yourself and the animal, and your wallet and good name maybe its better to call a rehab center.
Well said
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From what I heard this couple knew they needed a couple but didn’t seek one but I don’t think it was their fault. This was the right decision by any measure. Helping wildlife isn’t something anyone can or should do. That’s why wildlife rehabilitators are needed in cases like this.
!
I’m glad that Dani comes back to her origins. That’s cool.
“Then you must include S/N if the pet doesn’t come from a shelter or rescue”
What is S/N?
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