The Doe

About two weeks ago, I turned on to our road to head home. There's a spot on the road that is always prone to deer crossings, so everyone knows to slow down. Typically, it's unusual to pass more than one car while traversing the 2 mile road, but on this day, there just happened to be four cars around the deer crossing, myself included. As we all crept by, I noticed everyone was going a bit slower.

A doe was standing on the side of the road and, I assume everyone was slowing down in fear that she would dart at any moment. As I passed the doe, I realized she looked a bit panicked, but still she wasn't moving. And then I saw it.... she was missing a leg. To be more specific, she was missing her right leg from the knee down.(I'm assuming their parts are called the same as ours)

Over time, I've grown super sensitive to animals, and any type of cruelty (intentional or not) is a stick right to my heart. I couldn't help it, the sight brought tears to my eyes. I realize deer are not the brightest members of the animal kingdom, but there is a beauty about them that to see them mamed in this manner seems so sad.

Today I saw her again. This time she was on the other side of the fence, happily munching away at the grass, oblivious to the rain falling on her skin. I hope she's doing well for herself, though I ponder how she made it to the other side of the fence. I'm glad I didn't see that part. I wish I could give her a prosthetic to use and make life easier, though I know that's a ridiculous thought and she'd probably hate it. I wonder how the other deer treat her. Do they reject her because she can't 'keep up'?

I hope she knows that we feed corn in the field around 6pm daily and she's always invited to the supper table....