Sign: Save Baby the Deer, Confiscated After Being Raised By Pennsylvania Woman

Published: March 03, 2025 at 08:06 PM Author: Penny Eims

Connellsville, PA – A Pennsylvania woman is mourning the loss of her beloved deer, Baby, who was recently confiscated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  Baby, now two years old, was raised by Tammy Shiery and her neighbors – when Baby was just a weeks-old fawn, the Fayette County residents found him and did all they could to raise him responsibly.

Baby was given vaccinations, he was castrated, and Shiery completed what she believed was all of the appropriate paperwork. But her efforts did not stop game officials from coming to her home to capture Baby and haul him away.

It was a violent, distressing situation that ended with Baby in a trailer, and Shiery in handcuffs – game officials arrested her when she tried to stop them from wrestling Baby to the ground.

Now, there are concerns that Baby will be euthanized – it is eerily reminiscent of the PNut the squirrel situation in New York when government officials seized the domesticated squirrel, and a domesticated raccoon named Fred, and both were quickly euthanized.

The situation caused an uproar among animal lovers across the nation. Baby’s life-or-death situation is also going viral as social media users learn of how he was confiscated, and the fate he may face.

Deer can be raised as pets in Pennsylvania, but only if they were born in captivity…Baby was just weeks old when he was found, but he was not born in captivity. The technicality may result in his unfair, cruel demise.

Please add your name to the petition and help Animal Victory fight for Baby’s life; he has done nothing wrong and does not deserve to die.

Target: Pennsylvania Game Commision

WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS: 

We, the undersigned, demand that Baby the deer’s life is spared. Ideally, the state should get the appropriate paperwork for Tammy Shiery and allow Baby to continue to reside where he has since he was just weeks old. Shiery kept Baby in a responsible manner – ensuring that he was castrated and vaccinated against disease.  The game commission claims that Baby poses a risk to the public, but Shiery housed him in a responsible manner and her property is all he knows as “home.” This deer did not hurt anyone – he did not contract a disease, and he was not being abused or neglected. Please do what is right and spare his life.

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

Note: Castrating a male deer prevents normal antler growth; since testosterone drives the annual antler cycle (growth, hardening, shedding), removing the source of testosterone stops this process. By castrating Baby, Shiery eliminated the risk of him goring someone with antlers.

News:

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Final Update 3/10/2025: Animal Victory is pleased to report that Baby’s life has been spared. Baby will be cared for by a “licensed facility.” While we are upset that Baby will not be returned to the people who love him, we are thrilled that his life has been spared. Thank you for signing the petition and fighting for Baby’s life!