Dillie the Deer: A True Story of Love, Healing, and Family

A heartwarming and irresistible story of the profound bond between a deer named Dillie and the veterinarian who saved her life.  In the summer of 2004, veterinarian Melanie Butera received an unexpected patient: a three-day-old, blind, dying fawn she called Dillie. Melanie doubted the deer would survive, but with the help of her husband Steve she miraculously nursed Dillie back to health. The tenacious deer quickly became a member of the family, running around the house with the dog, the cat, and the people, and enjoying all of the perks, including her own bedroom, plates of her favorite linguini, and swims in the family’s pool. Mischievous and funny, Dillie opens cabinets, learns to climb stairs, turns the lights on and off, steals food, and showers her family with affection. Melanie and Steve gave Dillie a chance at life, and in return she has enriched theirs beyond measure. And when Melanie is diagnosed with cancer, the veterinarian who saved the life of a fawn is herself saved by the unconditional love of Dillie the deer. This heartwarming book is filled with insights about the animal world and the powerful bond between humans and the non-human creatures who love them.