The six-legged wonder deer that has captured the attention of the world will now have a permanent home in Athens, thanks to the work of Dr. George Gallagher.
Spyder, as Gallagher named it, will spend the rest of its life at a private facility run by an Athens woman who rehabilitates deer.
Click here for video and here for more photos for the six-legged deer.
Dan Pate of the West Rome Animal Clinic said Spyder was doing well before the deer’s trip Wednesday to Athens.
X-rays show the fawn has two distinct pelvises. To walk, the fawn uses one leg from each pelvis.
Pate believes that, for Spyder’s long-term wellness, its new caretaker might decide to have the extra set of legs surgically removed, which he said would likely be done at the University of Georgia.
“Since Spyder has two separate pelvises and tails, the legs do get in the way of his walking,” Pate said.
Pate also said the deer is recovering well from surgery to remove one of its two tails, and it is eating and moving around like any other fawn its age.
The fawn was discovered in the Everett Springs community after it sustained injuries from two dogs in the neighborhood. The owners of the two dogs were out walking when the dogs gave chase, separating the deer from its mother.
Melissa Dunagan, one of the owners of the dogs, said she was surprised to see the extra set of legs on the fawn.
“It wasn’t until after we put the dogs back in the house and were about to release the fawn that we realized it had six legs,” Dunagan said.
