The family raised "Lilly" from birth after its mother was killed by a car in front of their home, according to ABC News affiliate WXYZ.
Only licensed rehabilitators are allowed to legally own wildlife like deer in Michigan, and the Department of Natural Resources wanted to remove the 5-year-old deer from the family's home. More than 16,000 people signed a petition on change.org, and an online fund-raiser collected nearly $2,500 for the family's legal fees, according to ABC News.
Lilly's family applied for and received an "Exhibition Class Permit" from the state to keep the deer in their home, according to the family's lawyer.
