An Ohio animal lover who rescued injured deer was killed by one of the animals in an enclosure at her home \u2014 but which buck has blood on its antlers has exploded into a raging controversy.<\/p>\n
Jodi Proger spent the last 12 years rehabilitating whitetails on her five-acre Stewartsville, Ohio, property, about two hours south of Akron.<\/p>\n
The grandmother was killed by a buck Nov. 15 after becoming trapped inside an enclosure with the beast, WSYX reported.<\/a><\/p>\n Jodi Proger, 64, was killed by a deer she was attempting to rehabilitate on Nov. 15, Belmont County police officers were forced to shoot the aggressive deer in order to reach Proger, who was pronounced dead on the scene from her injuries, which were not detailed.<\/p>\n Proger, 64, began saving deer in 2013, after she watched a doe get killed by a car on an Ohio highway \u2014 and rescued its days-old fawn, as it heartbreakingly circled its mother\u2019s body on the side of the road. <\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t gonna do it but I did it,\u201d she told The Dodo news outlet, recounting how she turned her car around and scooped up the newborn male.<\/p>\n She named the baby Wheezer, and fought to keep him two years later after someone filed a complaint with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n The Buckeye state agency threatened to take and cull Wheezer \u2014 much like what happened to P\u2019Nut the squirrel<\/a> in upstate New York in 2024 \u2014 but Proger was able to keep her rescued pet and later expanded her efforts to save other deer.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s like a big dog,\u201d Proger said of Wheezer in a 2015 TV interview with 12 On Your Side<\/a>.<\/p>\n Proger saved Wheezer from the side of a highway after witnessing its mother get struck and killed by a car.<\/p>\n Proger\u2019s Facebook page is dedicated to her relationship with Wheezer, who is pictured making himself comfortable on couches and beds inside the home.<\/p>\n The deer-mom and her buck are seen wearing matching outfits at Christmas, St. Patrick\u2019s Day and Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n Proger even shared food mouth-to-mouth with Wheezer \u2014 who, in a recent photo, sports enormous six-point antlers.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Since Wheezer\u2019s adoption, Proger has brought home at least four other does and bucks \u2014 who are pictured in Facebook posts going back to last year.<\/p>\n In two photos, a wild deer stands alongside two children Proger identifies as her granddaughters, one of whom kisses the animal\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Proger\u2019s daughter Jennifer Bryan took to social media to dispel rumors that Wheezer was the killer.<\/p>\n \u201cWheezer DID NOT kill my mom,\u201d Bryan said in a lengthy Facebook post<\/a>. \u201cHe was neutered per the requirements of [Ohio Department of Natural Resources] when she received her permit.\u201d<\/p>\n Wheezer was a beloved member of the family, hanging out inside and dressing for holiday,
pictured with her beloved Wheezer. JodiWheezer Proger\/ Facebook<\/p>\n
and is not responsible for Proger\u2019s murder, the victim\u2019s daughter maintained. JodiWheezer Proger\/ Facebook<\/p>\n