The shooting was made public after a graphic video of the incident was given to KTVU. The video showed the deer being shot seven times by an Oakland police officer.

According to a housing authority spokesman, a housing officer said he saw a deer running down the middle of 8200 Birch St. in East Oakland at about 10:30 a.m. the morning of Saturday, May 1st, and started chasing it in his patrol car. Residents said the scared deer jumped a fence and wound up cornered in the backyard of a house on 90th Avenue, where the shooting took place.

Dr. Elliot Katz heads up the group In Defense of Animals, which has received dozens of letters from school children asking why the deer had to be shot.

“They talk about how they're sad,” said Dr. Katz of the letters.

Tuesday night, the animal rights advocate hand delivered a $1,500 check to Oakland’s Public Safety Committee in the hope that the city will be able to buy tranquilizer guns and prevent more animal bloodshed.

“I don't want to put any pressure on a city that's in need of funds,” said Katz. “That's why we're offering the money, so that at least they'll have several dart guns for situations like this.”

Oakland police confirmed they have launched in internal investigation looking into the shooting, but wouldn't discuss the incident further because it is a personnel matter.

Oakland police also confirmed they had received hundreds of letters, e-mails and phone calls over the incident.

The department said it was working with Animal Control to draft a new policy for dealing with wild animals. Some Oakland residents still did not understand why the deer had to be shot.

“I think there can be a harmony without having to shoot them,” said Teke Taylor of Oakland.

Susan Heckly, Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, said Bay Area residents were likely to encounter a variety of animals. The museum regularly treats about 6,000 animals per year.

Heckly said the key to dealing with those animals -- both for individuals and for local government -- begins with education.

“Starting with the kids, so that people understand that these are animals that do live in our neighborhoods,” said Heckly. “But then having it rise up through the city governments and into counties. I think that's really important.”

In Defense Of Animals said the $1,500 check being given to the Oakland Public Safety Committee should allow the city to buy three or four tranquilizer guns.