So far, the governor hasn't responded to the email sent to him on Dec. 2 by Alyssa Ferraro of Holland Township. A reporter's inquiry to the governor's office was forwarded to the state Department of Environmental Protection, where it remains unanswered.
On Nov. 25, after a one-hour standoff on the Oakes' property, Russ Oakes persuaded his wife Brenda to allow the sedation and removal of the three deer she had raised from fawns. But neither of them felt that the pet deer would be better off elsewhere.
This sentiment was echoed and amplified in Ferraro's email to the governor. It begins:
"Dear Governor Christie,
"War, disaster and heart break, so many painful issues going on nowadays. In the grand scheme of everything going on in our world, three little baby deer lying on the side of the road next to their dying mothers is not top priority in the eyes of most. Even with all the bad in this world there are beautiful, beautiful people who could not bear to not give these precious babies a fighting chance to survive."
She says of her boyfriend of three years, "As a 15-year-old, Trever was presented with what would become his life long best friend — a tiny baby deer whose name would later become Dandy or known to Trever as his 'Dandy girl.' As Dandy grew up living in the Oakes' house, Trever and his older brother Rusty helped their mother Brenda take on the role as Dandy's mother. For the next year, the newest member of the Oakes family's life was pampered by having free run of the Oakes property and even had her very own spot saved in Mr. and Mrs. Oakes' bed every night."
Two more fawns, whose mothers had been road-killed, joined the family. "Not only did Brenda and her boys raise Dilly and Daisy but Dandy took her new siblings in as her own. As the years have gone on and the girls become too big for always being in the house, and hunting was opened (in Horseshoe Bend Park, which surrounds the Oakes' property) Russ made a huge enclosure as a shelter for these furry family members to go in for safety."
She wrote, that "to some people deer are just deer" but these three are "very different from other deer anywhere in the world. Daisy and her big ears would lick anyone to death if they would let her...
Dilly is the scaredy cat of the group. She is only comfortable with her family and runs to them when she sees them coming, especially when there are grapes involved! She is honestly Trever's best friend. I personally have never seen a more pure and healthy relationship than the one between Trever and his girl. I truly never knew something so special could exist..."
"Honestly the point of all of this is, these deer had the best lives they possibly could at the Oakes' until" someone "used the government to take care of a personal vendetta between himself and Russ Oakes."
She hopes the governor "would not approve of such a thing. Growing up I have looked towards the government for direction on things that I could not understand. I truly hope that I have been believing in the right people."
Ferraro agrees that not "just anyone should be able to keep whatever animals they want. Yet, I do believe that people like the Oakeses with big hearts, lots of experience and the education to actually care for these animals should not be punished for doing right by them."
She asks the governor if he "could look in the face of three innocent creatures and just walk away without giving them a chance? And if you could, would that really make you the strong, wise man you are supposed to be?"
"I am asking to please, out of the kindness of your heart and what is truly best for those three animals to grant Brenda Oakes with a permit to rehabilitate deer... Please, let Dandy, Dilly and Daisy come back home where they belong."
Ferraro, who lives in Holland Township, says she hasn't heard anything back from the governor or the state. She says, "I won't give up until I get them home (but) I am at a loss as to where to go for help."
Meanwhile, Russ Oakes is applying for an education/exhibition permit on the strength of many visits to their property by children, some with teachers and some with parents, over the years. But he is not optimistic.
(NJ.com - December 22, 2014)
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