Aggressive deer jumps fence to attack B.C. couple’s dog

PENTICTON – A couple whose dog was the victim of an overly aggressive doe says Penticton's deer problem is out of control.

Tuesday morning, June 11, Devon Lach was in his yard enjoying the cool morning air as his dog, Five-0, did his morning business.

As Lach watched, a doe hopped the fence and charged her.

“Five-0 is no small dog — she’s a boxer. They chased each other around the tree a couple of times before the deer was able to get a kick in the head to Five-0. As soon as I saw the deer coming over the fence I was running down into the yard to get the deer out,” Lach says.

Fortunately, the dog did not seem to suffer any serious injuries due to the blow.

“She was lucky this time, but maybe not the next time,” Lach says.

Lach, who lives with his partner Julie Turner in the south end of the city, off South Main Street and Dauphin Avenue,  says they are trying to be self-sufficient by growing their own food and have followed advice on how to deter deer from their yard.

“Guess what? The deer still find ways to devastate our yard.  The city is sure not doing anything to protect us and our rights. Apparently, the deer have more rights than taxpayers,” he says.

Lach says he would love to construct an eight-foot-high fence around the yard but notes it’s against city bylaws to do so.

A recent Facebook post about Five-0’s encounter has generated a lot of debate on both sides of the issue of taking action or leaving the city’s deer population alone.

“I would like to see some kind of effort given to help lower our urban deer population. Not all deer are aggressive like this, but the ones that are needed to be removed either by relocation or by harvesting them and giving the meat to social causes,” Lach says.

Turner has also had numerous run-ins with the neighbourhood deer. In a letter written to Penticton City Council, she said she has been stalked and charged “more times than I can count,” and once had to be escorted home by a vehicle one evening after being chased and threatened by an aggressive deer.

"We have removed cedar hedges and all plants and flowers that look appetizing. We have a completely fenced yard and dog to deter. We've planted things deer don't like, tried deer deterrent spray, urine, hair, soap, and large sticks when walking,” she wrote.

"We've sprayed the deer with a water hose (as suggested by the City) and bear spray. We have installed 10-foot deer fencing around our garden. We call conservation when we witness an attack,” Turner wrote.

"I’m at a complete loss as to what to do next. Until I figure out a solution my dog and I are stuck in the house – a prisoner in our own home. I don’t feel safe,” she told council.

City council recently voted to maintain the “status quo” regarding the city’s urban deer policy at the April 2 council meeting. The vote followed a request by residents of Figueiras Mobile Home Park, also located in the south end of the city, for city assistance in reducing the deer population in their mobile home park.

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