Originally Posted by
flyrodr
Years ago, my wife and I were on the way from the house to some place, and came upon a town policeman, standing in the grass median of a four-lane parkway, looking down at a doe, that had just been hit by a car. The thing was alive, struggling to get up. I pulled over, got out and asked the officer if he was going to put the deer out of its misery, or wanted me to. I might not have said it delicately enough, as he sort of looked at me trying to decide if I was merely crazy or an actual threat. I then explained I was a former biologist, had my CCW permit, and was just concerned with the animal. He said he'd take care of it, and suggested I continue on. So I did.
In a separate incident (both within a mile of our house, and both in the city limits of a town of around 135,000), we passed two police cars stopped at yet another deer incident. We had to stop at a traffic light about 300 yards away, and within a few seconds heard 3-4 shots (sounded like a handgun). Not sure for the multiple rounds apparently needed.
Nothing like a "suburbanized" city to become a wildlife haven, and provide a booming business for the animal control officers to deal with raccoons, possums, foxes, etc. (and, yes, the occasional rabid one).
Interestingly, I expect a citizen dispatching the injured deer or any of the other critters in this situation would have a lot of explaining to do, as our fair city has an ordinance against discharging a firearm in the city limits. Said ordinance ". . . includes air guns, paintball guns, BB guns or pistols, or any spring gun, pistol, or other similar device that impels with force any projectile, shot or pellet of any kind."
Otherwise, it's a nice place to live.