A Michigan police officer rescued a Bambi-like fawn – the sole survivor of triplets – after its mother was fatally struck by a car and went into traumatic premature labor.
Frank Wright, an officer with the White Lake Township Police Department, responded to a car vs. deer accident on Highland Road Tuesday evening.
Upon arrival, he discovered that the deceased mother doe was pregnant and, due to the impact, in the process of delivering triplets, according to the department.
Tragically, two of the three fawns were already dead – but Wright quickly noticed that one was showing signs of a fight.
‘It started breathing a little better and made noise, so I knew, uh oh, this one might make it,’ Wright told Fox 2 News.
‘I could tell there was shallow breathing still, so I picked it up by its hind legs and let it drain its fluid out of its lungs,’ he added.
‘Once it made a noise, I knew then this deer might be okay.’
The Southern-born officer ultimately managed to deliver the fawn, warm it at the scene and revive it until it began breathing on its own.
‘I grew up in West Virginia and kind of grew up on a farm, so I knew how to take care of animals, especially ones that are going into labor,’ Wright told Fox News.
Frank Wright, an officer with the White Lake Township Police Department in Michigan, rescued a Bambi-like fawn – the sole survivor of triplets – after its mother was fatally struck by a car and went into traumatic premature labor on Tuesday evening (pictured)
Wright responded to a car vs. deer accident on Highland Road Tuesday evening and discovered that the deceased mother doe was pregnant and, due to the impact, in the process of delivering triplets
Tragically, two of the three fawns were already dead – but Wright quickly noticed that one was showing signs of a fight (pictured: Officer Wright)
The Southern-born officer ultimately managed to deliver the fawn, warm it at the scene and revive it until it began breathing on its own
Having delivered plenty of lambs and calves before, he knew exactly what the fawn needed – goat’s milk and a warm blanket – and the premature, six-pound newborn began to perk up after taking a bottle.
From there, the little baby fawn was brought back to the police station, where officers continued nursing him back to health – feeding him milk from a bright pink bottle and providing a cozy bed to rest in.
All the fawn needed now was a name, and the midnight shift chose a very fitting one: Baby Meijer, a nod to the supermarket located just across the road from where he was born.
Knowing he needed specialized care, the Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) stepped in to take Baby Meijer, and continue nursing him back to help in his new home.
‘A wild life rehabilitation center is on the way to come take Baby Meijer to his new home,’ the police department wrote on Facebook.
‘Sometimes in this job you see and do things you have never done before,’ it added. ‘We can now mark deer birthing and deer neonatal care off the list. Best of luck with your life Baby Meijer!!!’
On Thursday, the rescue group shared an update that while Meijer remained weak, his vital signs were stable and showing signs of improvement.
The rescue group shared a second update to Facebook on Friday, posting a heartwarming photo of Baby Meijer seemingly taking his first steps through a garden.
Having delivered plenty of lambs and calves before, he knew exactly what the fawn needed – goat’s milk and a warm blanket – and the premature, six-pound newborn began to perk up after taking a bottle
Knowing he needed specialized care, the Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) stepped in to take Baby Meijer, and continue nursing him back to help in his new home
All the fawn needed now was a name, and the midnight shift chose a very fitting one: Baby Meijer, a nod to the supermarket located just across the road from where he was born
In a Facebook update, the rescue group wrote: ‘Our little fella went for full body X-rays and he does have two small hip fractures in addition to aspiration pneumonia from before we received him, which we expected, and had him started on antibiotics Wednesday’
‘Our little fella went for full body X-rays and he does have two small hip fractures in addition to aspiration pneumonia from before we received him, which we expected, and had him started on antibiotics Wednesday,’ DAWG wrote in the post.
‘The antibiotics are working well and his breathing and temperature are improved.’
The group explained that while Baby Meijer isn’t a candidate for surgery at this time, he’s scheduled for follow-up X-ray’s in two weeks, and the vet is hopeful he’ll recover without needing any operations.
‘He is eating like a champ,’ the group added.
As of Saturday morning, the rescue group shared that Baby Meijer went from 6.1 pounds to 7.4 pounds.
In a photo shared of the tiny fawn’s cage – marked with a ‘Meijer’ name tag similar to an employee badge – the group wrote, ‘He still has aspiration pneumonia he came in with so please keep in in your prayers!’
For now, it seems Baby Meijer is on the road to a long, healthy life, surrounded by care, hope and a community rooting for him.
And none of it would’ve been possible if Officer Wright hadn’t been in the right place at the right time – with his kind heart and Southern know-how skills ultimately saving a life when it mattered most.