After a blind deer wandered into a Chicago neighborhood, every morning a 10-year-old boy took on the responsibility to guide her between the grass patches to make sure she got enough food.
A man and his wife noticed the boy’s kindness and took a photo of the pair.
The man posted the photo to Reddit and explained that he contacted a nearby wildlife rescue to come and help the blind doe out of concern for its welfare, given its disability and being in the urban environment.
“My wife and I took this photo yesterday after seeing this happen for a few days. My wife called the local wildlife rescue group a few towns over. They have a vet on staff and will be picking the animal up today to bring her a forest preserve where she can be looked after and stay out of traffic. I hope she does OK because she was so docile.”
The man said later that an IDNR licensed wildlife rehabilitation group came and picked up the deer. “They’re the only people who are legally able to treat and shelter a deer in Illinois. Half the neighborhood came out to see it, including the young boy and his mom,” he wrote.
The Redditor remarked that the young boy was exceptional in the way he handled his interactions with the deer. “His concern was very mature. He had only been walking the deer for a few days and hadn’t named her or tried to claim her as a pet or anything like that. Neither did he shelter her indoors or leave food outside for her which is against the law in our state. He just wanted her to be OK and was relieved to know she would be safe.”
“When they took her away I spoke to some more people and it sounds like the rest of the neighborhood has been feeding her and guiding her away the road for almost a week now,” the man further explained. “The little boy was by far the sweetest example of helping and caring. He showed a lot of love and respect and my wife and I are going to talk to his mom about a way she would want to see his act of kindness rewarded. We are going to frame this photo for them and offer to take him to the local wildlife preserve whenever he wants to go.”
I’m glad the deer had so many people looking out for her welfare! Share this wonderful wildlife rescue with your friends!
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