Rescue deer becomes best friends with toddler

By Leo Black via SWNS

An orphaned baby deer has become best friends with its savior's 11-month-old daughter.

Jeremy Goldsmith, 56, took the little deer in after it was found on the side of the road and 'Ziggy' - and his 11-month-old daughter Isabella - hit it off immediately.

The fawn, believed to be a two-month-old, was spotted on the side of a road in Stanstead Mountfitchet, Essex, after its mother was hit by a car.

A passer-by called Mountfitchet Castle, a Norman castle and museum, run by Jeremy - who agreed to take her in.

In just a few hours, Ziggy settled well in her new environment and has become best friends with 11-month-old Isabella.

Jeremy goes to the barn to feed the fawn three times a day and takes young Isabella with him.

The two spend hours together and Isabella loves to stroke and kiss Ziggy.

Jeremy said: "We're an animal-loving family. I was brought up in an animal-loving family and I did the same for my daughter.

"It's just so natural. They spend hours kissing and stroking each other. There's no fear - like you would expect there to be."

The castle already has a herd of five fallow deer, just like Ziggy, and the fawn will spend the rest of its life well-fed and with company.

Jeremy explained: "Ziggy is now doing well be cared for by the staff.

"We can't release her back to the wild now, as she would be too tame and not at all scared of people."