An invitation to argue about a minor issue (less important than breatsfeeding in Olive Garden)

[Stinky The Clown]

So . . . this deer was spotted struggling in a local river after falling through thin ice.

Two citizens spot the struggling Bambi and jump into action. Finding a nearby raft, and using shovels as oars, the two young men make their way to the distressed beast. They get a line around its neck (okay, they're amateur rescuers) and yank Bambi to safety.

Meanwhile, a stander-arounder calls the Department of Natural Resources. DNR dispatches two officers who arrive to witness Bambi and our two erstwhile heroes as they arrive at the shore.

The local constables issue two citations to the wet, shivering rescuers, each carrying a $90 fine.

Failure to have life jackets aboard the raft.

The next day (today), the chief of the DNR constabulary defends the cites. "We're qualified to effect water rescues. The citizenry is not." The life jacket beef was all on which they could nail these heinous miscreants.




Discuss.

[gratuitous]

1. "Breatsfeeding"?

You're right; being a typo nazi is less important than the Olive Garden (but then, everything's less important than Olive Garden).

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. How stupid

Can't think of much else to say here.

[alex cross]

3. the chief of the DNR constabulary exemplifies why I carry

a gun. I found it too inconvenient to carry a cop around on my back so I carry a Glock. I don't care how "qualified" they are, they aren't always around when you really need them.

[jberryhill]

4. They could easily have become struggling, drowning mammals in need of rescue themselves

[aquart]

5. I'm glad it worked out okay. One or both didn't drown.

I'm really sick of hearing about rescuers who end up victims despite their good intentions and great courage.

And maybe so was the constabulary.

[flvegan]

6. I already have it on good word that neither Mr. Hart nor Mr. Abusakran have much worry.

This story is moving really fast amongst folks that have no issue with not adhering to certain laws to save/liberate animals.

My hat is tipped in their favor. Thanks for posting.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. The play on the local nooz is that both men intend to fight the fine as vigorously as they . . . .

. . . . fought to bring Bambi to safety.

Not that it matters, but the DNR chief is not a sympathetic public face for his department.

[flvegan]

9. They probably don't know it yet, but

they've got some really big hitters already talking about this. A few hours ago I was privy to a conversation between 3 lawyers talking about this amongst other things. I heard at least 4 defenses raised. I sincerely hope that one (if not all) of them jump on this.

Even if they lose, the deer is saved, a fine gets paid and yet another enforcement agency plays the role of douchebag in the public eye. And two more folks join a pretty cool club, like it or not.

[emilyg]

8. I wish I could pay their fine.

[Common Sense Party]

10. Sadly, the deer will probably end up frozen in someone's headlights

and be roadkill before too long.

But these guys did the right thing, even if the DNR has a burr up the butt. It's small-minded, paper-pushing bureaucrats like that that give paper-pushing bureaucrats a bad name.

The DNR should come to their senses and publicly drop the fine and praise the guys.

If they don't, local citizens should pay the fine for them.

[HEyHEY]

11. Too much nannying going on. They should just refuse to pay.

[mindwalker_i]

12. They seem to be confused...

Having a big dick is not the same as BEING a big dick.

[lostnfound]

13. Useful as a deterrent, they will be sure to hunt for life jackets next time,

and the .001% who hears about the story won't follow in their footsteps, you know.

:sarcasm:

[customerserviceguy]

14. There are a lot of tragedies where a would-be rescuer

ends up becoming a victim, and it would have been especially tragic if two humans died in trying to save a deer. That said, this is a ham-handed way of the DNR chief to make that point.

He's made his point, now is the time to drop the citations, while issuing a statement cautioning the citizenry to not effectuate rescues. It won't make any difference to those who would continue to take the same chances for a rat, but it might give some necessary pause to those who think they're going to be heroes on the 5 o'clock news, rather than reported tragedies on the 11 o'clock news.

[HopeHoops]

15. NARWHALS! FUCK YEAH!!!!!!1!

[DainBramaged]

24. YEAH

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[Brickbat]

16. Let the deer drown. Otherwise, give the guys a public lecture and then quietly drop the fine.

I hate it when would-be rescuers require the professionals to come in. And for a deer! Sheesh.

[kctim]

17. All for a deer?

:rofl:

[hyphenate]

20. The truth is

that it was a living, breathing life form who would have suffered greatly had it not been rescued. I think the guys did a great deed in their rescuing the animal, whether it was appreciated or not.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. Little known fact to some:

Deer swim. Really well.


There is a decided dearth of deer skeletons on America's river banks.

[Scout]

22. kind of hard to swim through ice.... and then there's the hypothermia n/t

[kctim]

23. The truth is that it was a wild animal, not a human

and while I do not care if they helped it or just watched it go under the ice, putting their own lives in danger for an animal was stupid.
The fine is dumb and they are dumbasses, not 'heroes.'

[hfojvt]

18. reminds me of the time I rescued some baby possums

Having gotten them home, I called the DNR for help in care and feeding and also as to what to do with them. Their advice - just leave them there to die.

Of course, I took no risks in my rescue except the ordinary risk of bicycling down a highway typically reserved for weapons of mass destruction.

[NNN0LHI]

26. Had a similar problem with a couple of baby raccoons I found after their mother was killed

DNR wasn't helpful at all. The Brookfield Zoo was very helpful with information about care and feeding. But the lifesaver was a woman(I call her the raccoon lady), who someone told me about who raises and cares for orphaned raccoons and other small critters until they are old enough to fend for themselves and then she releases them back into the wild. I called her with my problem and she pulled up in my driveway less than a half hour later. She took the twins. I stuck fifty bucks down into her coat pocket(she didn't want to take it), to help care for them. And we were all happy.

I keep the raccoon ladies phone number on the speed dial of all my phones and donate money to her for food and other animal care stuff when I have a little to give. She is a lovely woman.

Don

[Octafish]

19. Hope they ask for jury trials.

The DNR should work for its $180.

BTW: Every boater should WEAR their life jackets, not just have them in a boat. In this situation, they were unavailable.

[WilliamPitt]

25. Epic Derp