DNR: Drop Charges Against Local Couple Who Rescued Deer

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Updated: 2/01 12:34 pm
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says it is asking a prosecutor to drop charges against a Tri-State couple who nursed an injured baby deer back to health.

The DNR said in a statement Friday that Gov. Mike Pence asked the agency to reevaluate the case. The DNR says it is seeking the dismissal of misdemeanor charges of illegal possession of a white-tailed deer against police officer Jeff Counceller and his wife, Jennifer, of Connersville.
 
The couple found the injured deer in 2010. The DNR told the Councellers they needed a permit to aide the deer. When they called to get one, they were denied and told keeping the deer, which they named Dani, was illegal, that she had to be euthanized.

The day that was supposed to happen, the pen was mysteriously left open and Dani escaped. Now the couple face trial and a possible sentence of 60 days in jail for harboring a wild animal.
 
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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of WKRC-TV :: Cincinnati Weather and Forecasts, Cincinnati News, Breaking News, and Sports for the Cincinnati area, Ohio, northern Kentucky, Indiana, and the tristate area

Julie Martin - 2/1/2013 7:30 PM
2 Votes
I think this is wonderful! People with empathy!! WE need more people like this! Kids now days are missing empathy??? They are also missing the respect for life!! The Devil is in the hearts of many people!! All I have to say is welcome back to church!! See you soon!

Ammys2Cuties - 2/1/2013 2:53 PM
2 Votes
Good grief - It certainly took long enough for more sensible minds to prevail...sheesh - bureaucrats!

Florenceyall39 - 2/1/2013 1:31 PM
9 Votes
Well GOOD! That couple did the right thing! I don't care what the law says, if I come across an animal in need & I can help it, I'm going to!!

Chenoosesmom - 2/1/2013 12:57 PM
4 Votes
It is hard to imagine that we have such ignorant people running the Department of Natural Resources and the State of Indiana prosecutors who would even talk about court for someone who helped save a deer INSTEAD OF KILLING IT. Thank you Mr. Governor for having enough sense to realize that this law sucks. You truly expect people to kill a deer if it can be saved? Don't think it will happen. What will happen is that people will take care of it on their own and keep it quiet instead of asking for help which they will not get -- I wonder if Ohio and Ky have some stupid laws. Guess we need to find out. I would hate to think that young children find it acceptable to KILL ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY ARE HURT. We should be teaching them to heal instead of kill. Maybe if they learn this from a young age they won't end up killers when they are older. Such a waste of taxpayer money to prosecute this couple. The prosecutor needs to find a job and a life!

nomorebull - 1/31/2013 1:41 PM
4 Votes
I agree with mccomas & kstutler: if you wanted help from government officials they say "no", loudly. I have gun-carrying/drug-dealing neighbor, likely responsible for the many breakins in Westwood. I can't keep this criminal or his spawn (lasalle/mother of mercy students) and their friends off my property. They vandalize and lie to police. Their animals run free. They think they are entitled to harm, vandalize and lie to the police. I have little to say about cops except glad junk cars finally removed from street. There are still 2 broken down vehicles, couch, beer cans, etc and neglected trees in neighbor's yard making the area hazardous or attracting rats. I'd be happy to see deer, not their snakes running loose in Westwood. Westwood is the new Wild, Wild West. If anyone needs lumber or tree branches to burn look for the large oak tree on Montana. The city is aware but only offered excuses. Told me I'm responsible for their rats, trash & trees when on my property. Cincinnati needs this DNR and their follow thru. Cincinnati needs a plan to deal with armed drug dealers. If mother mercy or lasalle needs old Xmas tree ask your students.

zookeeper - 1/31/2013 9:35 AM
1 Vote
mccomas45, I would've take the dead deer to one of the places you called and left it laying across the outside of their front do so they would've had to do something with it THEN so the could enter the building that morning.

Cincinnatus - 1/30/2013 4:32 PM
8 Votes
Luckily this story has gone national, and maybe international, and the DNR may be forced to back off with egg all over their faces.

happy mommy - 1/30/2013 3:33 PM
4 Votes
Don't they have bigger issues than someone saving an animal

brodbeckrt - 1/30/2013 3:22 PM
6 Votes
Dear DNR, I would like a refund for my hunting license and deer tags. Clearly my hard earned money is not going to help with conservation efforts, just a lawyer frenzied case about someone doing a good thing. +1 for the privatized jail system.

mccomas45 - 1/30/2013 3:02 PM
2 Votes
Same is true in Ohio. A small dear somehow ended up outside our office, next to a busy highway. I called to have someone pick him up before he got hit by a car. The SPCA wouldn't take him because he wasn't injured and no rescue agency could take him because they would be breaking the law. The SPCA said he was "in his natural habitat," in the middle of Norwood next to Montgomery and 562....seriously! The next morning he was dead on Montgomery Road.
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