Fawn and the beagle

[Dan B]

Breezey, You don't think it's true because you know Sarah Palin would blow it away if it got close to Anchorage. Maryland is a "Kinder and gentler America" (GHWB).

[Debra in Colorado]

Debbie wrote:

I think it's fake. My son does a lot of photo shop work, and said that it's not photo shopped. However, he did find a stuffed fawn, on line, identical to the one in the picture. Also, I have done extensive online search of newspapers and TV stations in the supposed area, and came up with nothing.

I don't know why I'm spending so much time trying to verify this story! Anyway, I've not found the story on any Maryland news websites, either. However, I also haven't been able to find any stuffed fawns online that look like this--do you have a link to what your son found?
In the two photos from the e-mail, the fawn's legs and head are positioned differently. Maybe it's real after all?

[Debra in Colorado]

OOPS. I missed a bunch of the comments after the post I referenced! Sorry to repeat stuff that's already been said.:)

[techegal]

Breezey wrote:

I don't think this is true... if you look at the picture you could tell by the ears of the fawn... they are shiny and bright pink... Looks like silk and sheesh don't you think the fawn would get scared and run off or go nuts if it seen the dude??

In the Texas hill country there are tons of deer and I have often found fawns while out walking my dogs. The fawns do not move when they are approached. They freeze. If they moved, bigger animals would attack. Not to say that they won't be attacked, but Mother Nature trys to help them by giving them the defense mechanism of keeping still. I know people who have raised fawns and they do not exhibit fear of humans when they are so young.

[Fawny]

If the fawn got into the house while the owner was away, how would they know it "followed" the beagle home?

[Loretta - Jersey Shore]

Clearly this story is true; anyone who knows animals knows how believable it is. I just want to know what was done with the little fawn. Did they care for it, bring it to a wildlife shelter or petting zoo? I hope they didn't just kick it out - without its mother it's defenseless. I tried WRAL-tv (which is in NC) and couldn't find the story.

[Dan]

The beagle and fawn are almost certainly real. The real question is about the story - did the fawn really follow the dog into the house, or was it found by the dog's owners and brought into the house to be cared for.

[JANIE]

(PLEASE EXCUSE "ALL CAPS". I HV ARTHRITIS IN MY WRISTS AND IT'S EASIER NOT TO USE THE SHIFT KEYS). I SUSPECT THAT THE PHOTO IS REAL. IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO QUESTION, IT MAY BE THE STORY. LOTS OF PPL MAKE UP STORIES TO GO WITH INTERESTING PHOTOS - ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET. IT'S CALLED POETIC LICENSE. IT'S ALSO THE ORIGIN OF MANY URBAN LEGENDS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS STORY COULD BE TRUE ALSO. I WONDERED ABT IT AT FIRST, BUT DECIDED TO ACCEPT IT AS JUST A CUTE STORY WITH PHOTOS.

[Appalachia-Dwell er]

Diane Hain--"middle of nowhere?" Low crime, pollution and traffic do not make us hicks, left wandering barefoot in Appalachia. Thanks for the info., but do not assume you know the locale.

Diane Hain wrote:

<quoted text>
WRAL-TV is the source. That's the channel that ran it on the evening news. The area where this happened is in Appalachia - really the middle of nowhere. I don't see why you would find it so strange. Young animals who lose their mothers will latch onto adult animals willing to offer care, even if their species is not the same. And it's not THAT uncommon for wild animals to enter a person's home.

[scott]

A lot of country people have had a pet fawn. The different ear positions show it's alive and well. The deep creek web site posting it in july seems to be the oldest source of the story.

[scott]

Snopes is still investigating. "Deep creek times" is the apparent originator of the pictures and story, used as their July picture of the month. I emailed them to see where they got the picture and this was the reply:

"It was taken by a friend of mine and, no, it is not a pet. "

and then later they replied about snopes:
"They haven't contacted me, but I saw it was on there. I kept meaning to
contact them and you just inspired me to do so. We'll see what happens.

I really had no idea this photo would travel so far and wide on the
internet. Amazing!"

snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/fawnbeag...

deep creek times source:
http://www.deepcreektimes.com/potmjuly.html

[NLL in NYC]

I think people, although suprised, are more concerned with the fawns wellbeing if it did - indeed wander home with the dog. Someone did google it and they indicated that the Dept.of Natural Resources told the owner to realease it. Apparently they did, went back and it was gone. Lets hope Bambi was reuinted with its Mother.

[warren c]

this photo also appears at the website below
the home of the family that this happened to
is said to be in Colorado where the dog heard
the distress calls of the fawn, went to investigate, they became friends and the fawn
followed the dog home.
guess the dog told his owners all this
while they were happily snapping pictures.
hope it's real, sure is cute

scott wrote:

Snopes is still investigating. "Deep creek times" is the apparent originator of the pictures and story, used as their July picture of the month. I emailed them to see where they got the picture and this was the reply:
"It was taken by a friend of mine and, no, it is not a pet. "
and then later they replied about snopes:
"They haven't contacted me, but I saw it was on there. I kept meaning to
contact them and you just inspired me to do so. We'll see what happens.
I really had no idea this photo would travel so far and wide on the
internet. Amazing!"
snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/fawnbeag...
deep creek times source:
http://www.deepcreektimes.com/potmjuly.html

[warren c]

forgot the website to post above
http://images.google.ca/imgres...

scott wrote:

Snopes is still investigating. "Deep creek times" is the apparent originator of the pictures and story, used as their July picture of the month. I emailed them to see where they got the picture and this was the reply:
"It was taken by a friend of mine and, no, it is not a pet. "
and then later they replied about snopes:
"They haven't contacted me, but I saw it was on there. I kept meaning to
contact them and you just inspired me to do so. We'll see what happens.
I really had no idea this photo would travel so far and wide on the
internet. Amazing!"
snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/fawnbeag...
deep creek times source:
http://www.deepcreektimes.com/potmjuly.html

[Vivian]

There was a special on Animal Planet that showed a crow taking care of a small kitten. It feed the kitten worms, played with the kitten, squawked at the kitten when it started to go in to the street. Animals are amazing. This is an adorable and very likely story. I'm a believer.

[lomalinda925]

NLL in NYC wrote:

I think people, although suprised, are more concerned with the fawns wellbeing if it did - indeed wander home with the dog. Someone did google it and they indicated that the Dept.of Natural Resources told the owner to realease it. Apparently they did, went back and it was gone. Lets hope Bambi was reuinted with its Mother.

Hey everyone - Here in northern NJ we have deer living everywhere. Ours sleep next to the driveway and when we come home too late they give us the "look" when the car headlights wake them up! LOL! Anyhow, each spring we have fawns in the yard and at first we thought they were "abandoned" either because the mom had been killed or other reason. When we spoke with several different Vet's and Div. of Wildlife, we were told that the fawns are often left "in plain sight" while mom feeds nearby in the woods. She is still keeping an eye on the little ones however. My point is that it was a good sign that the baby was gone after being released - mom must've been real pleased to see he/she back in the woods where they belonged!

[kathie]

I asked the news desk at WRAL-TV and they said and I quote ". No one here remembers this story. It certainly did not happen in our market (central N.C.).
We might have picked it up off the wire.
I did note that the person who attributed it to WRAL in the thread you sent me was from Maryland, so is unlikely to have seen this on our newscast.

Jodi Leese Glusco
Managing Editor, WRAL.com "
----------

Diane Hain wrote:

<quoted text>
WRAL-TV is the source. That's the channel that ran it on the evening news. The area where this happened is in Appalachia - really the middle of nowhere. I don't see why you would find it so strange. Young animals who lose their mothers will latch onto adult animals willing to offer care, even if their species is not the same. And it's not THAT uncommon for wild animals to enter a person's home.

[vjc]

I'm surprised at the folks who think it is a fake fawn. If you are familiar with livestock you would not be surprised to find a baby anything in the house. It could be that the fawn was orphaned and taken in by the family and bonded with the dog. That is common in areas of the country where we country folk live. I raise goats and often foster my goat babies on dogs. It is also highly possible for the baby to bond with the dog out in the field and follow it home. Nature is far more wonderful than those of you out of touch with it will ever know.

[victim]

Fawny wrote:

If the fawn got into the house while the owner was away, how would they know it "followed" the beagle home?

Touche!

[gonbiknn]

Maryland Hillbilly wrote:

<quoted text>
It is a real dog, a real deer and a real photo. It's my brother's dog, my brother's house and my brother's couch. No fake. If you knew the beagle ("Rusty") you would understand. Just a dumb, loveable beagle that loves to track (slow, but steady) rabbits but has probable never seen one. His only enemies in life are chimpmunks.

We are not doubting that the fawn, the dog, and the couch are real! We just want to know what happened to the fawn after the photos were taken??? Thanks, BS & LS