Who is Anthony “Tony” L. Proger? Husband of Jodi Proger, Animal Activist Mauled to Death by Rescued Deer

Jodi Proger, a 64-year-old animal rescuer from Stewartsville, Belmont County, tragically died on Saturday after being attacked by one of her rescued deer. Authorities responded to a 911 call from her family, reporting that Proger was trapped inside an enclosure with a male deer.

Proger, a devoted homemaker and wildlife advocate, had been caring for rescued deer and other animals on her property for over 12 years. According to her X social media bio, she rescued a five-day-old deer named Wheezer after its mother died in a car accident. She was also passionate about horse riding and advocating for injured wildlife.

Her husband, Anthony “Tony” L. Proger, and daughter Jennifer Bryan survive her, along with a sister, three grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren. Proger’s daughter clarified details of the incident on social media, responding to misinformation in some media reports. She explained that the deer had escaped its enclosure, and in the ensuing struggle, her mother was trapped and fatally injured.

Emergency responders had to shoot the deer to reach Proger, but she was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe injuries. Authorities from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Department of Agriculture are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, including the conditions in which the deer were kept.

Bryan emphasized that her mother was not killed by Wheezer, the first rescue deer, and that Proger had all the required permits for wildlife care from the ODNR. She recounted the day’s events, explaining that her stepfather, Tony, had been in the hospital due to a work accident, and her husband had tried to locate her before calling 911. The incident remains under official investigation.

Proger’s death highlights the inherent risks involved in caring for large wildlife, even for experienced and licensed animal activists.