For a good moral debate though, we need to know *why* you would want one.
I appologise for not participating in the discussion, I have been absolutly terrified...I am also very tired, I was so shocked I had trouble sleeping last night. I feel I owe each of you an appology. I posted because I hoped, as keepers of misunderstood exotic pets such as snails and other inverts, you might understand. I was inspired to do so by the wonderful kind support you gave to mandywith10...I could feel the love and it brought a smile to my face. I know there is nothing I can say to prove Muntjac's are excellent pets, and I won't try, and I respect the feelings of everyone in this room. But I will answer Kathym's questions and tell why I want one for a pet, and why I was led to believe they are acceptable as pets.
My belief is that nothing about keeping an animal in captivity is natural, including what we provide for our dogs and cats and even our own snails. The feeding information is based on the advice of deer farmers, who provide their deer with grazing, as well as hay and a feed in the winter.
Yes, I am aware of that, but many different animals out there are bottle raised or hand fed to make life with humans more comfortable for them. Cockatiels and other parrots for example are pulled from their parents before their eyes are open to be hand-fed, and the result are very sweet, affectionate birds with a future with a loving human. This is very common, I know from experience they are rarely sweet if not hand-raised. (I used to breed cockatiels)
Also, I would never...ever...take a fawn from it's Mum in the wild. I actually located a breeder who farms them. I don't know his true function in breeding them.
I would supervise the feedings, I would make appropriate adjustments in my work schedule to feed the fawn until he/she is old enough to be given a meal before work, after and before bed. I don't understand what you mean about grazing, as they don't graze until they are weaned, but as an adult the deer would have a constant supply of hay to graze on and access to the garden for natural grass.
Thank you Kathy...yes we can, I appreciate you holding back your anger towards me to ask my side of the story. As I mentioned before, I am not going to try to change anyones mind. I will tell my story, and you are welcome to say as you like about me. Im just so surprised they were so harsh...that's all.
Well, where to begin? My facination with these deer began in middle school (sorry I can't remember the equivelent in the UK) when I was making cuttings from a National Geographic catalog. I came across this deer, or a simular one, and they are instantly my favorite animal. Deer in general had become a beloved animal of mine, I really related to them, like a familiar. Being a shy, timid, cautious person, but with strength and fire when the time called.
Many years later, I can't remember how I came across the Muntjac...but I must have found that caresheet. I was absolutely shocked, I was thrilled! I thought...wow, a pet deer? My second thought after the initial exitement was that there had to be a catch, I needed to dig up the dirt on this pet before I made any decisions. So, like all pets I fall in love with, I researched. It was difficult, there was very little information on the internet about them, yet alone a library. Fortunetaly, I did find some websites. One was from someone who rescued a doe, and while she was injured kept her indoors. I was amazed at her story of how the deer bonded with the family, and when they decided to move her outside, how she tried to come back indoors to be with her family.
I continued my research, taking note of information on other deer species. It became obvious that Muntjac's were an exception to the rule of deer keeping, because unless domesticated like reindeer or fallow deer, they are actually quite dangerous! Expecially a male in rut! This led me to more serious research, I could not keep a pet that could be dangerous. Apparently again, this exotic Asian deer is the exception again. They do not have a defined rut, they breed throughout the year. Because of this, there is no period of dangerous aggresion. As done with dogs and cats and horses, I looked into alteration. I did so because I realized boy deer need homes more desperately then the girls do, so I decided to offer one a home. Alteration is a bit more serious in deer, it must be done before they have their first rush of testost. or else their antlers will grow and never stop. I located a deer-vet only 45 minutes from my future home to make sure this is carried out properly and safely.
Moving on in my research, I found two breeders. I contacted them and asked them a large number of questions. I asked every detail, every problem that came to mind, and especially asked about the care sheet mentioning keeping them indoors. Apparently their customers are doing so, and it made sense to me because any animal stays bonded with their human when around them as much as possible, which would be indoors. I took my own bunny into this case, I imagined keeping him outdoors. I don't believe he would be as sweet as he is unless I spent most of my time outdoors with him...which would be difficult right now due to ice and snow we had recently.
After getting the initial concerns of this exotic pet squared away, I next checked into the legality of keeping such a pet. In the USA, there are different laws per-state, but I needed to check the legality in Scotland, my future home. I E-mailed the Environmental Health Service of the Dumfries and Galloway Council and they confirmed for me that Muntjac's are not listed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and "...therefore you would not require a licence under that Act to keep such a deer as a pet..." I kindly E-mailed him back asking about the rest of Scotland, and he confirmed this is true for the entire United Kingdom.
Legalities worked out, I had one last thing to sort. How much of a pet is a Muntjac, really? I also wondered how they behave in the indoor enviroment, and with their humans. I wondered, would the deer simply wander the home? Or would it interact with the family? The care sheet led me to the idea that they strongly bond with their humans and enjoy games of tag and chace. I checked with the breeders, who else could I ask? The confirmed with me on this information, including the litter training. They apparently form VERY strong bonds with humans, even when not bottle raised if you spend enough time with them. They follow you around the house in fact, and thrive on attention. They show their affection like rabbits do by giving you little lick kisses, and rub against you.
Oh, litter training is accomplished because, just like kittens and other young animals, the mum will lick their bottom to encourage them to go. When bottle feeding the little Muntjac, it would be a simple process of standing them in a tray of sand litter, and as they grow, they would become accustomed to using the tray.
All that was left after everything checked out was how the SSPCA would feel towards my pet. They do not encourage keeping such a pet indoors, or as a pet all together. However, they did not say I cannot, and I am fully aware it is legal for me to do so. So if I adopt a Muntjac, I will respect their feelings towards captive deer and follow the rules of farming them by building a little shed in a fenced area outdoors for my deer + companions so he isn't lonley because he can't be indoors. I know I appear to be ignoring the SSPCA's feelings about this not being an appropriate pet, but you must understand, I am around exotic pets a lot. As a long-term worker in an exotic pet shop, I watch as pets that were previously as exotic as my Muntjac as suddenly popular with pre-packaged meals on our shelf. I realized, any creature with the right qualities can be an excellent pet, domesticated or not, it just depends on how many people have this pet to make it acceptable.
To conclude, the reason I want this pet deer is I throughly researched it, and I am fully confident I can provide care for it. I know people with much more unusual, and dangerous exotics, so my natural personal feelings is a Muntjac is not as big a deal. Ive known people raising black bears, foxes, racoons...all with appropriate licenses mind you. Also, a nice lad comes to the pet shop I work at to show us his kinkajou...I guess im constantly exposed to the unusual creatures out there. I don't judge a Muntjac any more then I do a dog or cat...but that's just me. I want to bring this deer into my life because I love and respect them for what they are, and have my confirmations on their quality as pets. No pet in my life is for my entertainment, they are each a member of the family with a name and personal attention, including my snails. The only reason I want my deer indoors is because they bond strongly with their humans and would want to be indoors with their "herd" just as a bird sees their human as their "flock" and dogs see their humans as their "pack." I made the decision purly in the best interest of this pet. And as for the collar...I never mentioned it, but I would only do so for saftey. Should my deer be startled and bolt through the door, this would protect my deer because Muntjac can be hunted at any time of the year. A tame deer would be an easy target without a highly reflective collar. And um...I got the idea from a kind woman on Flickr who bottle raised and released a whitetail deer (large normal deer) and put a collar on her to protect her from being shot. The doe visited her family still too, I was blown away. Even when she had a fawn, she brought it to her human family to visit, the pictures said it all....deer are beautiful animals, and when I discovered the Muntjac, I saw an opportunity to bring this amazing animal into my life and into my family.
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There you go Kathy...I hope I explained myself respectfuly and in an organized manor...except maybe the last paragraph, that was a bit unorganized because it came from my heart.
I am not trying to change anyones minds, you are free to scold and critisize me as you wish, I will not argue, it is wrong and leads to hate. I only want peace and friendship...I hope you will forgive me. As a fellow snail lover, I wish everyone well with your little shelled darlings, and all your other pets as well, exotic or not. I appologise as coming off as selfish...I was just upset that my hard work and my dream had hit a harsh snag at the end, and no one was there to give me a shoulder to cry on, they only scolded me more or ignored me. I only had my boyfriend, and we are in two different countries in the moment, I felt utterly alone and that affected my words. But everything will be ok. I am very sorry to each and every one of you. I meant no harm.