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Friday, July 10, 2009

After Years Of Concerns, This Deer Still Remains At The Salisbury Zoo


"Joe,

I was just at the zoo this evening. Thought you would like to know the deer with the diseased antlers is still there."

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

can't the zoo do anything for this poor animal? they should be charged with animal cruelty. I thought they had an obligation to take care of these animals???!!!

tracy said...

I don't know for a fact, but I've never seen that the deer seems in pain. If the growth is not affecting the quality of life the animal is leading, what should be done?

Maybe those thinking that the deer should be euthanized or have the affected area removed also thinks the same of human deformities?

Anonymous said...

Since the Salisbury Zoo is one of the high tourist points in town, it would seem as though they'd at least keep this disfigured creature out of public view.
The taxpayers of the city deserve to have this facility in the best shape with the best foot put forward.
Where is the common sense here?

Anonymous said...

I read somewhere that when a deer
has his testicles removed this will happen to the antleers.

Anonymous said...

9:42, Keep the disfigured creature out of view? That's crazy. I guess you don't like to see disfigured & injured veterans out in public either. Get over it. Not every person or creature is perfect.

joealbero said...

anonymous 10:14, no, why not simply rename the Salisbury Zoo the freak show. You don't have Vets on display nor do you have them confined in cages for show. If you walked into a Vet Hospital, I think you'd know what to expect.

tracy said...

Instead of hiding the deer, the zoo should maybe create a plaque (if they haven't already) explaining the deformity so that parents can teach their children something besides intolerance of something that is not the "norm". Children are usually very accepting of differences and many are wise beyond their years, at least until the prejudices of their parents seep in. It seems to me it's adults that have a problem with the deer, which they want to blame on their children in a deluded effort to prevent them from seeing such a "disgusting" site.

As long as the deer is not in pain, use it as a means of education. People need to realize that this is a natural occurrence and not all animals look like they just came out of a Disney movie.

Moon Willow said...

The deer should at least be taken care of out of the public eye. I wouldn't want a youhg child to see this. I think the commenters comparing the deer to human beings need to get a grip.

Anonymous said...

I would think at this point that the growth is so large now that it would be unable to be removed. Do the humane thing and put the animal down. That's awful.

tracy said...

Why put it down, because it's ugly? Why would you kill something just because you don't like what it looks like. The growth is not affecting the deer, that we know of. It's only affecting the shallow people that are disgusted by it's presence.

Orsonwells said...

Don't deer shed their antlers each year? If so, this means these grow back each year in a similar configuration? Methinks we all need to educate ourselves before casting stones. My guess is that it is a genetic deformity and the deer is in no pain, but less able to defend during a rutting season. Therefore, the zoo ought to be the perfect place for the animal's own health, and our educational opportunities.

SunnyInOC said...

Hey DA's, they deer has been neutered. Nothing hurts, except maybe his pride.

Anonymous said...

Tracy you have lost your mind. How much do you think that the growth on the top of the deer's head weighs? It's hard to say what a mass of that size would actually weigh. How do you know that the deer isn't in pain? Did you ask it? Have you physically pushed on it to see the animal's response? Since you think you can talk to animals, I have a bird in my back yard with a broken wing. He walks around all day dragging it. He's deformed, but I know he's not in any pain because Tracy said so.

tracy said...

11:41: Leave it to some idiot to start attacking - probably the same one that wants to kill the deer without knowing anything about the condition.

I believe that I read a statement from the Director of the zoo about the condition that this animal is experiencing, and the fact that it has been handled - I don't recall whether there was any pain acknowledgment. I seem to recall that the Director stated if the deer was experiencing pain or decreased quality of life issues, they would consider alternatives.

There are many people in pain every day from genetic diseases. By your thought, maybe we should remove them from the population as well?

If the bird in your backyard is injured, nature will take it's course - whether it heals or a predator takes it.

Anonymous said...

This particual deer does not shed his antlers like other deer. So every year while others loose their antlers, this one keeps his. Then he will grow new ones. So he keeps the old, the new and the growth. So you SM's don't know everything you think you do.

Anonymous said...

What sort of a retarded zoo has deer on display? I can go into my own backyard for that. Give me elephants, giraffes, hippos, that sorta stuff! Stupid Smallsbury.

Chimera said...

LOL 12:02
I have them in my driveway some nights-sure do not need a zoo to see them

Anonymous said...

There is a plaque where the deer exhibit is and it does go into detail on what happened to the deer. I read it to my children just last week.

tracy said...

Thank you, 12:39, for taking the time to educate your children. Are they experiencing irrevocable damage because of seeing this deer's plight? I doubt it - especially with a parent that takes the time to help his/her children understand.

Anonymous said...

I'm the one who sent the message to Joe. The deer did not look in pain, but it was just laying over by a tree. It didn't move while we were at the exhibit other then to turn it's head. 12:39 I didn't see that plaque there, but I wish I had seen it so that when my Son asked me what was wrong with the deer I could have explained it better(I'm not saying it isn't there, just that I didn't see it). I don't think he should be put down if it is not life threatening or causing him pain. It does look awful to us, but that doesn't mean the deer has problems because of it. I sent Joe the message so he would know the deer was still there and seemed to be ok.

Anonymous said...

Can't they just remove the antlers?
It seems thet they would be heavy for him.Poor animal.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you all that God that you are perfect? Think about it

Anonymous said...

tracy. of saylor. of e saylor. of DSlime. of CYA. of STFU.