Fawn Injured By Hit-And-Run Driver Receiving Healing Care
BY CLAIRE GALOFARO/Bristol Herald Courier
The rescued fawn lies in a basket Friday as it awaits transport to Nickelsville, Va., for rehabilitation and eventual release back into the wild.
BY CLAIRE GALOFARO
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Va. – A spotted, 5-week-old deer got off to a rough start Friday: While strolling a lonely stretch of Stagecoach Road with his mother about 8:30 a.m., a car plowed him over. The driver who hit him just kept going.
But a good Samaritan saw the accident, called it in and waited by the young fawn’s side until the cavalry came.
Lucky for the fawn, the cavalry happened to be Bristol Virginia Animal Control Officer Lisa Holly.
“He was laying out in the middle of the road, near death,” Holly said. “I thought we would have to put him down on scene. Normally, we probably would have shot him.”
But as Holly wrapped him in a blanket to move him to the shoulder, he started coming back to life.
“I was close to crying,” she said. “He was such an awkward, bendy little thing with long, spindly legs. It broke my heart. But, then he got more alert, started moving around.”
The fawn, a spitting image of Bambi, weighed around 10 pounds, she guessed, and was just a couple feet long. His only obvious injuries were little cuts on his face and legs. It is unknown if his mother was injured; she ran from the scene, although Holly suspected that she was watching from the trees.
Determined to save the fawn, who couldn’t walk, Holly packed him in the truck and took him to the Jones Animal Hospital for treatment.
Then the question became where he would go for long-term rehabilitation.
The hospital called Alanna Dingus, a Nickelsville, Va.-based wildlife rehabilitation specialist who agreed to take him in and nurse him back to health.
Dingus and Holly plotted a fawn-exchange for 6:20 p.m.
Holly, off-duty since 4 p.m., drove her personal red sports car to the meeting, with the deer nestled in a crate in the back. The women parked next to each other, petting the deer and smiling for photos. Then Dingus put him in her minivan and drove him to his new home.
Dingus said she would start by keeping him in a small pen and feeding him by bottle. With time, he’ll be able to wander her woods on his own, coming back only for meals. Eventually, she’ll set him free.
“I’ll try to get him completely weaned by Aug. 1,” she said. “Then he can assimilate, get wild again before hunting season. By then, he’ll be big enough to eat on his own, run fast enough to protect himself and go out and get good and fat before winter.”
Dingus works at a veterinary hospital and saves wild animals for free in her off time.
“It’s just fun, a hobby,” Dingus said. “I actually pay $10 a year to keep my license.”
The fawn is now in good company. Dingus is caring for two raccoons, a wild turkey, a couple other fawns, squirrels and rabbits.
“He’s got some head trauma,” she said, “but since this just happened, he probably has a good chance of being able to be back into the wild. We just hope he gets better.”
| (276) 645-2531
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Reader Reactions
Whoa! Scary how uncaring some can be! I too have 3 children and have hit animals on the highway. First and most importantly is the welfare of my family but then I have to check and see what kind of destruction I have caused. It is us that are intruding on their home and we must have some responsibility and at least some compassion or what is the world going to come to? Yes, deer are over-populated and can cause much destruction and danger on our highways, but who could look into the eyes of a fawn and not have their heartstrings tugged?
Nature is a part of life and yes so is death but you could still be a human with feelings and stop for a baby deer who you have hurt. It is caused compassion for others.
Hats off to Lisa Holly AND the folks down at Dingus’ who are giving this little one the care it needs to survive.
Stories like these make my day!
Shepherdsvoice, can you read at all. The write was calling the person a hit and run driver like they committed a horrbile crime. Its a phrase allright, a phrase normally used to describe a horrible person. No i didnt hit the deer and if i would have i would have kept going to. Like someone else commented, to stop hitting animals put up a mile high fence down our roadways. Otherwise the animals are doomed. Its not like we do that on purpose. I hardly think anyone wants the life ended and vehicle totaled over hitting an animal. So you get a grip and as far as the writer of this article goes, im gonna push for your termination.
I would like to commmend Ms. Holly. It would have been much easier to have just shot the fawn, but she took her own time to find it a home. I, too, wish there were mor people like her in this selfish world we live in. I wonder if Ms. Dingus would be interested in the chickens living at McDonald’s on Lee Highway?
I hit 2 deer one night and feel luck me and my kids are alive.
After hitting the deers and losing the drivers side quater panel, headlight and mirror I was gald my van was still running and we were unhurt.
My first thought is to get my kids to saftey. Sorry deer my kids come first.
Some other driver followed me down the road. I saw him writing down my tag number and address and then he went back in the direction of the deer.
If we now face hit and run charges because of deer then highways need to have 12 foot fences around them.
BJ1971 whats wrong, did you hit the deer? I read the story and the writter doesn’t sound like she is trying to blame or make anyone feel bad. Hit and run is just a phrase. Lighten up the story is about a fawn. who is being cared for, not the driver. Focus on the positive and have a blessed day 
While its sad this little animal got hit, i dont think its very nice of the media to make the person that hit it out to be some sort of uncaring monster. Animals get in our path all the time. Its sad. I have had my dog hit and die. Nothing fun about it. But when we hit an animal we cant just stop and start going nuts about it. Its a part of the animals nature to not be too smart when it comes to the road and automobiles. The write of this story Claire Galofaro needs to back off a little. I guess the next time one of us runs over a turtle, possum, ground hog, bugs, etc, we should just get out and do what? Stand there looking stupid. I for one would keep on going as well, not because im heartless, because i love animals, but because you never know if what you hit has disesases or anything. Its sad when an animal gets hit but who has the money to nurse them back to health? Not i and more than likely not you. Its not free. Animals die everyday because of running in front of cars. Part of life, but for this writer to say this person hit and run is like calling him or her a murderer. I wonder if Ole Claire has ever hit an animal? Im sure she will say oh no not me. Im too perfect to do such a thing. Back off Galofaro. Your a dispicable writer for call this person a hit and run person. Its sad it happened but when a deer or any animal runs out in front of you you cant take a chance by swerving and killling yourself. Your an idiot. You should be fired for writing and article so stupid.
WOW! What a wonderful person. I would love to donate to your cause if I knew where to mail some money as I know this can get expensive caring for these little guys who have no chance if it were not for people like you.
In this world that is now being ruled by a facist tyrant, I am sure he would find a way to issue a tax for the donation, however you need money for this wonderful cause.
The world needs more people like Lisa Holly.
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