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Oregon animal welfare officer rescues baby deer stuck in fence

This photo provided by the Eugene Police Department shows a fawn stuck in a fence. Animal welfare officer Shawni McLaughlin freed the terrified fawn and, after a short recovery period, it was able to spring up and run away. (Shawni McLaughlin / Associated Press)
Associated Press

EUGENE – An animal welfare officer in Oregon is getting attention after her body-worn camera captured her rescuing a baby deer.

The Eugene Police Department on Thursday made public a video and photo of Officer Shawni McLaughlin freeing a terrified fawn that got stuck in a backyard fence.

In the video, McLaughlin wraps the fawn’s head in a towel and lifts it from between two narrow fence posts as she gently talks to the deer.

The fawn lies on the ground for a few seconds after being freed, apparently not aware it can walk.

McLaughlin pets it before it springs up and runs away. An open sore can be seen on the fawn’s left hip.