Content warning: The images and descriptions within the following article could also be disturbing to some readers.
By Grace Frost
An elderly lady in palliative care has been afraid after discovering a decapitated deer on her Whittlesea property, with quite a few authorities unable to help her.
Nancy, who most well-liked to not give her surname, noticed an animal on its again when travelling down her driveway in mid-October.
“As I got closer, all I could see was blood on the mutilated body of the large animal. It became clear that the animal had been decapitated in a very brutal way,” Nancy mentioned.
“My family and I had seen the big buck wandering around my property for many years. It did no harm to us or my land.”
The 84-year-old widow mentioned she was ‘immediately alarmed’ the deer had been stalked illegally on her property, close to a significant street and her neighbours’ trotting horses.
Licenced hunters steered the buck had been shot with a high-powered rifle in shut proximity to her home.
“These hunters would have needed to go over my fence and travel hundreds of metres through my private property and past my home to stalk and shoot the animal in my front yard,” Nancy mentioned.
“They did not have my permission to do so, and I have been made to feel very unsafe.”
Nancy, who has late-stage most cancers, contacted authorities for assist, however every ‘passed the buck’ and bounced her grievance off, unable to help with the animal carcass decaying at her property.
She first phoned Whittlesea Police Station 3 times when she noticed the deer, however nobody answered.
She then rang the non-emergency police cellphone line, who related her to triple zero, and was informed to name Whittlesea Police Station once more.
When Whittlesea Police Station answered, Nancy was informed law enforcement officials couldn’t assist her and directed her to contact City of Whittlesea council.
A Victoria Police spokesperson mentioned a sergeant had inspired Nancy to name her again ought to council be unable to help with the buck.
Though Nancy mentioned a sergeant had assured her they might observe up, however didn’t accomplish that.
Council informed Nancy it solely eliminated animals from public land, not personal, and informed her she ought to name Wildlife Victoria.
Wildlife Victoria couldn’t help because the deer was not native, resulting from Sambar deer being thought to be a pest animal in Australia, and informed Nancy to name the RSPCA.
But the RSPCA was unable to assist because the disposal of animal carcasses isn’t a service it gives.
Nancy mentioned the RSPCA informed her that it was her accountability to bury the carcass.
An RSPCA spokesperson acknowledged how distressing the state of affairs was for Nancy, and understood the ‘confusion and frustration regarding the complexity of this situation’.
“I have been left exhausted and distressed by this incident, and disappointed at the lack of help available,” Nancy mentioned.
“I don’t think that it’s fair that I’m now left with the decaying animal in my front yard, and the whole situation has made me very sad and afraid that this will continue to happen more often.”
Whittlesea police have since visited Nancy at her home to debate the incident and inspired her to name if she felt unsafe.
Police may also begin conducting patrols of the realm.
But the deer nonetheless stays at Nancy’s Whittlesea property three weeks on, headless and maggot-infested.
Authorities have mentioned the elimination will almost certainly should be an act of charity.
