ALERT- EXTREMELY URGENT PETITION : PLEASE HELP SAVE SNOWBALL AND BUCKY (RESCUED DEER) IN OREGON

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."

Please let the ODFW know that placing this pets in the wild is the same as killing them. (It's only a matter of time before they'll die.)


Update 10/15/07
Last week, the ODFW made the decision to send Snowball to an elk farm (where the owners eat elk). Today animal rights lawyer Geordie Duckler filed a petition to return Snowball to her family. The case will be heard by a judge on 10/24/07.

Update 10/30/07
Oregon's Attorney General appeals Clackamas County Judge's ruling that Snowball be returned to her family. INSANE!
Right now, Snowball is still being held by the state.