Oh Deer, What Can The Matter Be?

So here's the scene: I stayed home from school on Monday because......well I......ah......just because I wanted to and thought I deserved a day off! There's nobody here I have to answer to, right? Anyway, I was lounging around, playing computer games, and tinkering with the ConQuest graduation speech I'm giving tomorrow when Dale called upstairs with a slightly frazzled, "I need your help!"



I came running of course and followed him outside and two doors up, where a deer had attempted to jump the neighbor's fence -- the fence that clearly was too high -- the fence that sits on always-moist mushy grass -- the fence that has arrowhead shaped spikes about every 4 inches. You guessed it. The poor little guy, he was a young buck, had impaled himself in the lower gut, but he was hanging completely off the ground!



Sadly, he was still very much alive and clearly panicked beyond belief. We tried to approach him quietly, but it didn't matter. He started to struggle. So we each grasped one of his hind legs and started to lift him skyward, trying to clear the spikes that pierced him. The fence itself was about chest high for me, so lifting something that heavy straight up required almost more strength than I had. It was easier for Dale because he's of course taller and stronger than I am, but it was too awkward for him to lift both legs and the full weight of the deer high enough,



Adrenaline, sheer determination, or lack of alternatives, whatever it was, we were able to lift him clear of the spikes. But there was no chance of putting him down on the ground gently. As soon as he was free, he started to kick, and caught me right in the chest. We had no choice but to drop him on the other side of the fence where he struggled to get away, but he was bleeding profusely and clearly had no strength left.



I hurried in to call Animal Control. They sent a couple of officers out who confirmed that the deer was mortally wounded. The Animal Services officer came in our direction and said they were indeed going to put the animal down. I said I definitely didn't need to see that, so I turned to walk away. But I had barely turned when I heard the shot! Geez! Give me 5 seconds to get in the house, can't ya?!



Anyway, it was traumatic and more upsetting than I would've thought. Today I have a good-sized bruise just over my heart. Dale said it's a love-bruise because I did a good thing in helping him free the poor thing. I told him I'm not faking sick anymore.