Family’s pet deer taken away by state wildlife officials

A family in Rio Linda is upset the California Department of Fish and Wildlife took their pet deer away.

Standing in the doorway of his backyard, 6-year-old Ulises Cervantes watched Tuesday as Florecita was tranquilized, Fox40 in Sacramento reported.

“A deer is a wild animal, not a pet,” said Janice Mackey of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

She and nearly a dozen others from the department spent Tuesday afternoon tranquilizing the Cervantes family pet and readying the animal to be moved.

The family rescued the California black tailed deer two years ago when they found her mother lying dead on the road.

“Caring for a wild animal takes years and years of experience. With that in mind, we want the best thing for the animal,” Mackey told FOX40. It is illegal in the state of California to have a deer as a pet.

As the Cervantes family watched from afar, neighbors stood on their property, protesting.

“This doe was hand-raised by these people. This is where she needs to be,” neighbor Candace Taylor said.

Representatives from the Department of Fish and Wildlife tell FOX40 they will be taking the deer temporarily. They are unsure yet of the animal’s final destination and would not disclose if the family would be able to visit the deer.

“We’re sorry to do this, but we want what’s best for the deer. It is illegal to have one as a pet, bottom line” Mackey told FOX40.

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