The young deer had been seeking shelter in Fassnidge Park for nearly a week, where it was subjected to its ordeal.
It has now been rescued and is in the care of a animal shelter in Windlesham, which has close affiliations to the legendary guitarist. Staff there say she is making good progress but warned the doe, named Daisy, has a long way to go before fully recovering.
A staff member at Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue (HAWR) said: “As a charity we are shocked by the state of this poor animal. People should respect wildlife and be ashamed of their behaviour. Brian has seen Daisy and is appalled at the state of her and saddened that people would chase her with dogs or that children would tease her.”
The Roe deer was first spotted running down and dodging traffic in Uxbridge Road on April 25, before escaping into the small park. But she became trapped inside and was seen by concerned dog walkers and park users throwing herself against fences in a bid to get out.
Among those people was Debbie Bull, who regularly walks her dog there. She said: “Dogs have been chasing her and attacking her and kids have been chasing after her as well. On Saturday (April 30) she was throwing herself against a fence trying to escape. There were 20 or 30 of us calling the police and the RSPCA and wildlife places asking for help.”
But she says there was little assistance forthcoming, and that the RSPCA said it could not assist as it could not dart the animal in a public place.
The deer only had two ways out of the park: through the gate and into the road or the River Frays.
Debbie said: “It got to the stage where we were thinking the sooner it ran out in the road and got hit by a car the better. It had been harassed and nobody wanted to help it. It looked like her only options were a very slow and painful death or to be hit by a car.”
However, the deer’s luck would change on May 1, when RSPCA officers came down to investigate. Debbie happened to be walking her dog and spoke to them, but they insisted there was nothing they could do to help.
But two Lurchers then chased the deer into a fenced-off area where workers had dug a hole, meaning the charity staff were now in a position to rescue the animal, with the help of nearby helpers.
She was taken to HAWR who have been caring for it since. The staff member continued: “She has these injuries from bites and from running into fences when being chased. Deer are inherently jittery after years of hunting them and once faced with danger will run for their life. In an enclosed space she would have been driven into fences by chasing dogs and bitten and her wounds are in keeping with these injuries.”
Debbie now wants the community to know the deer is in caring hands: “So many people were involved, so many people called to get her help, and they won’t know she’s OK. I wouldn’t know unless I happened to be there at the time.”
HAWR is based on the estate owned by Brian May, who lives in the area and also has a home in Kensington. He supports the charity and also set up the Save Me Trust to give wild animals a voice.
(Get Surrey UK - May 4, 2016)
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