A New Jersey woman is scheduled to be sentenced next month for keeping a deer as her pet. The woman found the baby deer in 2019, and when she tried reuniting it with its family, she found that its mother had died.
As a result, the woman, Cammy Lowe, raised and looked after the fawn she named Rudolph, or Rudy, like her own child. She kept him in an enclosure at her 30-acre farm.
Although Lowe was the only support the baby deer had, she allegedly broke the wildlife law, which prohibits citizens from possessing a wild animal without a permit.
Lowe was found guilty of interfering with the job of a conservation officer and having the deer illegally castrated. The judge heard both sides, and it now remains to be seen what message the judge’s verdict will send out.
Someone Tipped the Wildlife Police About the Deer
According to a report by NJ.com, Fish & Wildlife conservation police officer, Lt. Andrew Riviello, was tipped off about the deer in 2024, and as a result, visited Lowe’s Van Kirk Road farm in July 2024 to investigate.
She reportedly took Riviello to the stable, where the officer saw the deer. The prosecutor in a municipal court played the bodycam footage of Riviello, in which Lowe said, “I’m going to start crying; he is my baby and I’ll take him to Canada if I have to.”
Municipal Court Judge Louis Sancinito said that Lowe’s own statements led him to find her guilty of possessing the deer. In addition, she also reportedly said that she castrated the deer and also refused to sign a form Riviello asked her to fill out.
Not only that, she has either moved the deer from her property or is not disclosing its current location, a point that contributed to the judge’s guilty finding. Rudy is missing, and Lowe has said that he escaped.
Lowe’s Lawyer Said Her Compassion Was Not Accepted by the State of New Jersey
Lowe’s lawyer, John W. Hartmann, criticized the court’s decision, saying it sets the wrong example for New Jersey. He told NJ.com:
“Ms. Lowe provided the little fawn a safe, comfortable, and loving environment. This compassion was unacceptable to the State of New Jersey.
“Government officials have pursued and hounded Ms. Lowe and Rudy with a vigor worthy of Inspector Javert. This case is a dark mark upon our Garden State.”
At trial, Hartmann argued that Riviello should not have been on the farm and that he violated Lowe’s Miranda rights. During cross-examination, he also pointed out that state authorities never examined the deer to confirm whether Lowe had it castrated.
Hartmann further argued that Riviello never legally established whether Lowe actually owned the farm. Lowe had advertised that she operated the 30-acre animal farm, TLC Country Stables, where she offered horse-riding lessons, pony rides, and children’s parties. Children visiting the farm were also allowed to pet Rudy.
Hartmann said later that someone likely trespassed onto the property and “snitched” on Lowe.
Lowe chose not to testify during the trial. The judge noted that no negative conclusions should be drawn from her decision to invoke her Fifth Amendment right.
In his ruling, the judge wrote that courts deal in “facts and reality,” leaving “make-believe and fantasy” to Disney movies.
He said Lowe believed she was doing the humane thing by caring for the animal, while Riviello was simply carrying out his duties as a law enforcement officer and upholding the law.
Lowe Revealed Her Side of the Story Through a Fundraiser
Lowe has set up a GoFundMe account to raise funds to cover her legal expenses.
The description of the fundraiser suggests that she tried approaching several animal rescue organizations after realizing that the mother of the baby deer had died, but the only response she received was to leave the baby deer in the woods and let nature take its course.
She also confirmed that Rudy escaped the barn, but she was still facing charges for trying to save and raise him. She wrote:
“Did you know you could go to jail for saving an animal’s life? My name is Cammy Lowe, and I run TLC Country Stables in Lawrenceville, NJ. Eight years ago, I found a newborn fawn alone in the woods next to its dead mother. I called every animal rescue I could find, but none would take him in. They told me to leave him in the woods and let nature take its course, but I couldn’t do that. I brought the fawn home, named him Rudy, and created a sanctuary for him at my farm.
“For years, I quietly cared for Rudy, giving him a safe and loving home. But last year, someone reported me for keeping a deer, and I’ve spent the past year and a half in and out of court. The case is still ongoing, and the legal bills are piling up. Rudy is no longer with me—he escaped the barn some time ago—but I am still facing the consequences of trying to save his life.
“I am asking for your support to help cover by legal fees from my months and months and months and months of meetings and local court sessions regarding Rudy. Every donation, no matter the size, will help. Thank you, again, for your support.” [sic]