Snowball to be placed at Molalla elk farm
1 Comments Published by Pioneer Staff on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 2:26 PM.
By Abby Sewell
Molalla Pioneer
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that Snowball, the doe confiscated from a Molalla family on Sept. 12, will be placed at Rosse Posse Acres, a commercial elk farm in Molalla.
Rosse Posse, a 52-acre farm with 80 head of elk, is one of the 24 facilities in the state of Oregon licensed to keep cervids like elk and deer in captivity. Sixteen of those permits are reserved for commercial elk farms.
The family of Jim Filipetti and Francesca Mantei, who raised Snowball from a fawn, did not hold a license to keep wildlife. And although Mantei said they would have been willing to fall in line with any requirements necessary to get a permit, there are no more cervid permits available in the state.
Rosse Posse Acres co-owner Brenda Ross said that she sees the resolution as a best-case scenario.
"I think it's a win-win situation for everyone involved," she said. "The (Filipetti) family can be close to (Snowball) and can visit her often, the ODFW gets her placed in a licensed facility and we can educate the public about piebald deer."
Snowball's coloring -- mottled white and brown -- is identified as piebald, a coloration often associated with physical disabilities, Ross said. The doe has hoof and leg deformities that make her unable to run or jump.
ODFW spokesperson Rick Hargrave said that the agency will work with the Brenda and Alan Ross to develop a long term plan for Snowball's medical care. The doe will likely be placed with them in about three weeks, he said.
Hargrave said that, although the agency has been in discussions with Rosse Posse for several weeks, the final decision to place Snowball there was made today.
"Primarily, the decision was made because we believe the doe is going to a facility where she can have the constant medical care she needs for the rest of her life," he said. "And part of the decision was that it's consistent with Oregon wildlife law."
But Mantei said she still feels the best place for Snowball would have been with the family that raised her.
"You had a willing couple here with five acres, willing to do anything (the ODFW) wanted," She said. "We were ready to do it with our money and their oversight ... They turned us down to make an example of us."
Earlier this week, attorney Geordie Duckler issued a letter threatening to file a civil suit if the ODFW did not return the doe to the Filipetti family by Saturday. Mantei declined to comment on whether the suit will go forward now.
Duckler was in trial and could not be reached for comment.
Molalla Pioneer
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that Snowball, the doe confiscated from a Molalla family on Sept. 12, will be placed at Rosse Posse Acres, a commercial elk farm in Molalla.
Rosse Posse, a 52-acre farm with 80 head of elk, is one of the 24 facilities in the state of Oregon licensed to keep cervids like elk and deer in captivity. Sixteen of those permits are reserved for commercial elk farms.
The family of Jim Filipetti and Francesca Mantei, who raised Snowball from a fawn, did not hold a license to keep wildlife. And although Mantei said they would have been willing to fall in line with any requirements necessary to get a permit, there are no more cervid permits available in the state.
Rosse Posse Acres co-owner Brenda Ross said that she sees the resolution as a best-case scenario.
"I think it's a win-win situation for everyone involved," she said. "The (Filipetti) family can be close to (Snowball) and can visit her often, the ODFW gets her placed in a licensed facility and we can educate the public about piebald deer."
Snowball's coloring -- mottled white and brown -- is identified as piebald, a coloration often associated with physical disabilities, Ross said. The doe has hoof and leg deformities that make her unable to run or jump.
ODFW spokesperson Rick Hargrave said that the agency will work with the Brenda and Alan Ross to develop a long term plan for Snowball's medical care. The doe will likely be placed with them in about three weeks, he said.
Hargrave said that, although the agency has been in discussions with Rosse Posse for several weeks, the final decision to place Snowball there was made today.
"Primarily, the decision was made because we believe the doe is going to a facility where she can have the constant medical care she needs for the rest of her life," he said. "And part of the decision was that it's consistent with Oregon wildlife law."
But Mantei said she still feels the best place for Snowball would have been with the family that raised her.
"You had a willing couple here with five acres, willing to do anything (the ODFW) wanted," She said. "We were ready to do it with our money and their oversight ... They turned us down to make an example of us."
Earlier this week, attorney Geordie Duckler issued a letter threatening to file a civil suit if the ODFW did not return the doe to the Filipetti family by Saturday. Mantei declined to comment on whether the suit will go forward now.
Duckler was in trial and could not be reached for comment.
It's a small world! I talked with my boss last week, he just returned from China. Molalla,Snowball and Bucky made the news in China!
This story has taken on a life of its own!!