A dog heroically rescues a baby deer from drowning and steadfastly refuses to leave its side
In Culpeper, Virginia, United States, a heartwarming incident unfolded when a dog rescued a baby deer from drowning in the city’s lake, proving that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
One afternoon, Ralph Dorn was searching for his 6-year-old dog, Harley, near the lake behind his house. After several anxious minutes, he finally spotted Harley swimming roughly 200 feet away from the shoreline.
What made the situation even more peculiar was that the puppy wasn’t swimming alone; there was another creature in close proximity, and Harley went above and beyond to help it.
Upon closer inspection, Ralph realized that it was a young deer that needed rescuing to prevent it from drowning.
On Facebook, Ralph wrote:
“I’m not sure how the deer ended up there, but Harley didn’t waste time questioning it; he simply sprang into action.”
The courageous dog swam back and forth between the shore and the small deer, carrying it gently in his mouth, and made determined efforts to bring it to safety. Ralph, watching the whole scene from the shore, decided to lend a hand by pulling the deer out of the water near a steep cliff.
Once on the grass, Ralph carefully placed the young deer down, and without hesitation, Harley began licking its tiny body to help dry it completely.
Ralph expressed, “Harley was unwilling to leave the fawn’s side. He continued to show affection, giving him kisses and taking care of him.”
As the deer and Harley reached the shore, the mother of the young boy arrived on the scene to investigate what was happening with her child.
Upon noticing the arrival of the young boy’s mother, Ralph made the decision to bring Harley back to the house and leave the baby deer in her care. The doe patiently waited until they had moved a safe distance away before approaching her fawn to pick him up and lead him to safety.
It seemed that Harley’s role had come to an end, but the following morning, something unexpected occurred that left Ralph’s family astonished.
Ralph commented, “Harley became restless, darting from one window to another. When I opened the front door, we could hear the bleating of a deer.”
To everyone’s surprise, it was the same young deer that Harley had saved. Without hesitation, the dog sprinted towards the neighboring trees and quickly located the fawn. As they reunited, the fawn stopped bleating and started wagging its tail. They touched noses and sniffed each other for a few moments before Harley calmly returned home.
After their heartfelt reunion, the deer found solace and eventually returned to the wild, accompanied by its grateful mother. It appeared that the young deer simply wanted to express gratitude to Harley for saving its life, and they haven’t crossed paths since.
Ralph shared the remarkable rescue story and Harley’s heroic act on Facebook, and it quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of shares.
Thanks to Harley’s bravery, the little deer can continue its journey in life, and it will undoubtedly carry eternal gratitude towards the courageous dog.
