Officer Richards and his wildlife service dog, Mishka, make a good team in their work to help recondition bears they find in their travels outdoors. But when Richards recently discovered an abandoned baby fawn in the wild, Mishka took on a completely unexpected new role in helping the frightened baby deer. Mishka took such good care of the fawn that it accepted the dog as its parent.
When Officer Richards placed the pair in the back seat of his patrol car for a ride home, the fawn is seen nuzzling Mishka, who then turns and begins giving the as yet unnamed fawn a much needed bath to clean his face, using his tongue as a sponge. Richards reports that the fawn is thriving and enjoys following Mishka around as the two enjoy some fresh air in his backyard.
The fawn follows Mishka everywhere he goes in much the same way he would be trailing his mother deer out in the wild. When Mishka plops down on a section of the grass to take a rest, the fawn remains close to his protector.
This wildlife service dog seems have formed an unspoken pact with the abandoned fawn to make her feel safe and protected, as the little fawn is now safe from predators she might have experienced if still in the wild, enjoying life in Officer Richards’ fenced-in backyard.