Janet Schwartz says the 10-year-old deer she found as an orphan and named Bimbo after a Gene Autry song is her life.

The animal lives in her house and sleeps on her bed.

Environment Minister Terry Lake issued a statement Friday saying that as a veterinarian, he understands the bonding that takes place between people and their pets.

He says there was concern that taking the deer out of Schwartz’s home would be risky for the animal because that’s the life Bimbo has known.

Earlier this week, the ministry suggested Bimbo would have to go because it is illegal for someone to keep wild animals and someone had complained about the deer in Schwartz’s yard.

In 2009, Schwartz was ordered to get a permit to keep her pet, but the permit was denied.

The ministry relented then after a public outcry.