Gilbert, a small deer with a broken front leg, must find a home at a licensed sanctuary and time is running out, says West Kelowna’s Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital.
The staff is reaching out to the public to help find the perfect spot for Gilbert.
“We are all trying to take care of the baby,” Dr. Moshe Oz said.
“We’re trying to fight the odds.”
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The vet hospital is providing all of Gilbert’s medical needs for the old leg injury, which requires surgery.
“It cannot be repaired,” Dr. Oz said. “He can’t be in the wild like this, he cannot walk.”
Dr. Oz said there are three possible outcomes for Gilbert—amputate his front leg, construct a prosthetic or put him down.
“Putting him down is the easiest and most practical way to deal with the problem, which I agree with,” he said.
“But only if we can try the other two first.”
Dr. Oz spent most of Wednesday night trying to track down a sanctuary for Gilbert; however if no one responds to his calls by end of day Thursday the deer will be euthanized.
“Chances are small, but you know what, I’ve done more difficult things in life than this,” he said.
It can’t be anyone’s farm, it must be a licensed sanctuary—a facility that has staff with the knowledge who can take care of Gilbert for the rest of the life.
“I am putting my heart into this,” he said.
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Their focus is on a zoo in Kamloops, Dr. Oz said, as provincial rules state wild animals can’t be transferred from one region to another in order to prevent the spread of disease.
“If someone knows about a sanctuary and can help, we have a little bit of time to help the baby,” Dr. Oz said.
“If we cannot, we understand the logic that we have to make a decision. At least, then, I didn’t just close his eyes without trying.”
@caitleerach
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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