A baby deer's brief and unexpected detour into the world of dog crates has come to a heartwarming close, thanks to some watchful neighbors and a quick-acting wildlife officer in Sonoma County, California.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife shared the sweet rescue on social media last week, after Officer Cameron Blechert got a tip that a fawn had been scooped up from the wild and tucked into an outdoor wire dog crate at a Sonoma County home.

When Blechert arrived, sure enough, there was the little one, wide-eyed and waiting for a brighter future. The folks at the home acknowledged they had found the fawn and had been caring for it for a few weeks, no doubt with the best of intentions (who could resist those spindly legs and big brown eyes?).

The good news: The fawn is now in the hands of the pros. It was whisked off to a wildlife rehabilitation center, where it'll be nurtured, looked after and eventually returned to where it belongs, roaming free in the wild.

And there's a gentle lesson tucked into this happy tale, no matter where in the country you live. As Fawn Rescue of Sonoma County reminds us, a fawn found alone is almost never abandoned. Mama deer often wander off for hours to eat and stretch their legs, trusting that their babies will stay put until they return. So if you spot a fawn nestled in the grass, the kindest thing you can do is simply admire from afar and let nature take its course.

If you're ever truly worried about a fawn's well-being, skip the rescue mission and call the experts. Your state's wildlife agency can point you to the right local office.

As for this lucky little deer? Its story is heading exactly where it should, back home among the trees.