Close to ninety fallow and axis deer fill the open park, does barking anxiously as fawns disappear in a wave of shifting hooves. Cups of feed are sold in the gift shop, ensuring a friendly encounter with the herd, although one or two will wander up regardless, nibbling gently at the edges of your clothes. Any visitor to the farm is fortunate to have Pat as their tour guide. Her love of animals is obvious, as she strolls across the asphalt pathways affectionately calling out as she passes the pens. The animals appear to be as comfortable with her as she does with them. Many have spent time in her living room being bottle-fed until bonding between mother and child has successfully occurred. All of them have names, clearly members of the ever-expanding family George.



Comet, Dancer, Vixen, Bullwinkle, and Wooley Bulley are just a few of the reindeer from Alaska that make up the latest addition to the deer end of the business. And Donner is the newest addition to the small herd. True to form the now four-month old spent the first few days of his life in Pat's living room before being placed in his own pen, where he will remain until he is old enough to live with the other bucks. Female reindeer are the only female deer to grow antlers, a requirement in protecting their young. The impressive racks on both male and female reindeer are as wide and high as the reindeer is long, and even Donner at four months, has begun growing antlers.   

Summer is a busy time for the Georges, with does giving birth and bucks rutting. Separate pens are needed to keep everyone safe, including the deer. Pat has had her hands full with several new fawns born in recent weeks. Still too young and shy to make their way into the line at feeding time, they will approach Pat's outstretched hand with some coaxing.  She fondly recalls the fate of a fawn born with only three legs - and during a television interview to make matters worse. They named the fawn Hope, not knowing what else might be wrong with the newborn, and hoping she would be all right. Hope's story is another tale of synchronicity at the deer farm - she was eventually given to a school where she is the much beloved pet for children with disabilities.