A few days I brought you the story of the fawn known as Little Orphan Dani in Connersville Ind. The Pagan community here in the Puget Sound are in support of Jeff and Jennifer Counceller, each of us knowing that if in the same position that we too would have taken in the severely injured and very young fawn that could not care for itself. Much like Connersville Ind. the Puget Sound has many deer and we do everything we can to help protect and preserve our wildlife and wild lands. This story has touched more than just Pagan hearts and it seems that the entire nation is on the side of Counceller’s, except Ind. DNR. Yesterday, Jan. 29, 2013 they even appeared on Good Morning America where the countries outrage over the charges against the Counceller’s was expressed.
Jeff and Jennifer are being charged with charged with unlawful possession of a deer, which is a misdemeanor that if punished to its fullest extent could put the couple in jail for up to 60 days and cost them up to $2,000 in fines. All of that for helping one of the Great Mother’s creatures. Keep in mind that the couple did not stumble upon the little fawn in the woods and steal it from its mother. This fawn was on a door step, starving, near death and with injuries so severe that they have been described as having maggots climbing in and out of them. If it were not for the love and compassion of Jeff and Jennifer, the little fawn known as Dani, would have surely died a slow and horrible death. There is no magic more powerful than love and it is that love and dedication that healed Dani and helped her grow to the strong and healthy doe that she is today.
Call it what you will, accident, divine intervention, or even tampering, the day that Dani was scheduled to be put down by Ind. DNR little Dani’s pen was opened and she escaped into the woods. It would seem as though the Great Mother would not allow the DNR to murder the innocent little fawn that Jeff and Jennifer worked so hard to save, raise and release. The DNR‘s decision to the kill the animal is heart breaking and from a Pagan stand point is murder of an innocent animal. Jennifer said "I was devastated. I spent a year and several months nursing her into adulthood, getting to the point where she was able to go out on her own." The Counceller’s state that they did not leave her pen open but are sure that someone who knew what was going to happen to little Dani that day did open it and set her free. Surely the gods were smiling when Dani was set free before the DNR could murder her but their fight is not over.
Here in Tacoma, we sit and watch and wait for the trial date to come in March. We watch as the DNR in Ind., a department that should be helping the wildlife rather than killing it, restate their case over and over that the deer could be a danger. If Dani were some rare species would they still want to kill her or protect her? There are lots of questions that we have for the DNR in Ind. Yesterday I called and after waiting on hold I was told that there was no one there that I could speak to and I am still waiting on an email response from them. From the Puget Sound to Connersville, the Pagan community thanks Jeff and Jennifer saving one of our Mother’s creatures. You have our full support in the steps that you took to save her life. To the mystery person that set little Dani free, the goddess Artemis must have been acting through you that day and we offer you praise and blessings.
Don’t forget about the petition to drop the charges against the Counceller’s, Little Orphan Dani Counceller’s Facebook page, the Facebook fan page, or the fundraiser for the legal defense of the Counceller’s. The Pagan community in the Pacific Northwest stands behind you and sends you our love and support.
Want more from this writer?
Follow her on Twitter, join her Facebook fan page, or send her an email with your thoughts or story ideas heather.marseillan@gmail.com
Comments