Snowball is a deformed deer rescued by Franchesca Mantei 5 years ago; Bucky is her offspring.
On Wednesday, September 13, the authorities, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State Police (OSP), took Snowball and Bucky from their home at the Mantei's 5-acre property. An unexpected compromise to allow the deer to roam free on the family's land fell through. As Franchesca Mantei states "Snowball released in my yard will not have a fighting chance... she can't run... with the wild critters in the area and the neighbors' dogs, she'll get mauled. She'll be dead by dark."
The Beginning
Snowball was found by Mantei, lying on the road beside her house, 5 years ago. Her back legs were terribly deformed, with her hooves tearing her skin when she tried to walk. Twice monthly for 6 months, Mantei took her to the veterinarian who corrected the deformity with a cast.
Snowball should not be considered wildlife as she cannot support herself in the wild. If a wildlife refuge cannot be found to take Snowball, she could be killed.
Like Franchesca Mantei said on the news, no one will care if she shot a deer. So why is so much effort being put into separating her from her beloved deer?
Please pressure the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to return Snowball and Bucky to the only family the have ever known: the Mantei.
The number to the Director's Office at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is (503) 947 6044.
You can also contact: Richard Hargrave (503) 947-6020
Michelle Dennehy (503) 931-2748
Fax: (541) 867-0311
URGENT 11/08/07
Right now a Judge has ordered Snowball 's return to her family but the state has refused and the attorney general is filing an appeal (see Oct 30 Update below). Please contact the Attorney General's Office at
Office of the Attorney General:(503) 378-4400
FAX (503) 378-4017
Update 10/05/07
ODFW released Bucky into the wild today.
Update 09-18-07
From a letter sent by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), it is apparent that officials still want to place Snowball and Bucky in the wild. While they state that they "are working to find a solution that recognizes the families%u2019 attachment to the animals, but is in the best interest of the two deer and all of Oregon%u2019s wildlife", ironically, they also state that they are "evaluating the ability of the deer to survive in the wild" and "the preferred solution is to return the deer to [the wild]."
Again, Snowball is disabled and Bucky has never lived in the wild, so why should this be an option? As Mantei has stated, "Snowball is defenseless", "She can't run. She can't hide.%u201D Poor Bucky "would walk up to a hunter." The ODFW, itself, has stated recently that "wild animals that are raised around people lose their natural fear of humans."
Snowball is a deformed deer rescued by Franchesca Mantei 5 years ago; Bucky is her offspring.
On Wednesday, September 13, the authorities, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State Police (OSP), took Snowball and Bucky from their home at the Mantei's 5-acre property. An unexpected compromise to allow the deer to roam free on the family's land fell through. As Franchesca Mantei states "Snowball released in my yard will not have a fighting chance... she can't run... with the wild critters in the area and the neighbors' dogs, she'll get mauled. She'll be dead by dark."
The Beginning
Snowball was found by Mantei, lying on the road beside her house, 5 years ago. Her back legs were terribly deformed, with her hooves tearing her skin when she tried to walk. Twice monthly for 6 months, Mantei took her to the veterinarian who corrected the deformity with a cast.
Snowball should not be considered wildlife as she cannot support herself in the wild. If a wildlife refuge cannot be found to take Snowball, she could be killed.
Like Franchesca Mantei said on the news, no one will care if she shot a deer. So why is so much effort being put into separating her from her beloved deer?
Please pressure the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to return Snowball and Bucky to the only family the have ever known: the Mantei.
The number to the Director's Office at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is (503) 947 6044.
You can also contact: Richard Hargrave (503) 947-6020
Michelle Dennehy (503) 931-2748
Fax: (541) 867-0311
URGENT 11/08/07
Right now a Judge has ordered Snowball 's return to her family but the state has refused and the attorney general is filing an appeal (see Oct 30 Update below). Please contact the Attorney General's Office at
Office of the Attorney General:(503) 378-4400
FAX (503) 378-4017
Update 10/05/07
ODFW released Bucky into the wild today.
Update 09-18-07
From a letter sent by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), it is apparent that officials still want to place Snowball and Bucky in the wild. While they state that they "are working to find a solution that recognizes the families%u2019 attachment to the animals, but is in the best interest of the two deer and all of Oregon%u2019s wildlife", ironically, they also state that they are "evaluating the ability of the deer to survive in the wild" and "the preferred solution is to return the deer to [the wild]."
Again, Snowball is disabled and Bucky has never lived in the wild, so why should this be an option? As Mantei has stated, "Snowball is defenseless", "She can't run. She can't hide.%u201D Poor Bucky "would walk up to a hunter." The ODFW, itself, has stated recently that "wild animals that are raised around people lose their natural fear of humans."
We the undersigned are writing regarding your removal of the deer, Snowball and Bucky from their home in Molalla, Oregon. As you are well aware, Snowball is deformed and cannot survive in the wild. Bucky has never lived in the wild and would not survive there. As Mantei has stated, "Snowball is defenseless%u201D, %u201DShe can't run. She can't hide.%u201D Poor Bucky "would walk up to a hunter." (Your own department has stated that %u201Cwild animals that are raised around people lose their natural fear of humans%u201D.)
Everyday, deer are killed and few people are alarmed. How then can we excuse spending all this effort to separate deer from the family that they so desperately need, and needs them?
Franchesca Mantei and her family are the only family Snowball and Bucky have ever known. If not for Mantei and her family, Snowball and Bucky would not be alive today.
Please think of this "crippled little happy deer," her Bucky, and the wonderful family that loves them, and make an exception in returning them home.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
