CANAL FULTON, Ohio -- It's an endearing story of an unlikely house guest that moved in and never left.

Dillie the deer has lived with the Butera family for more than five years. Melanie Butera is a veterinarian who nursed the doe back to health after she was born with several health problems.

The little deer was brought to Melanie's clinic by someone who didn't want to keep the fawn, and she now lives in the house, right alongside the family cat and dog.

And despite some health risks, Butera says she's just part of the family now. "There are certain diseases you have to be careful of but she's not really around wild animals like other deer are so she doesn't really have a chance to contract things."

Dillie has her own bedroom, eats homemade meals and she's even potty trained. "She's taught herself to go up and down the stairs, go up in the bed and when she's outside she follows Steve around. She knows her name," Butera boasts proudly.

The family's beloved Dillie eats salad, but the Butera's say Dillie's favorite foods are ice cream, spaghetti and fresh berries.

The animal has wandered from the property once before, but she now they monitor her whereabouts with GPS tracking device.

In fact, Butera was just awarded a cash prize by the GPS manufacturer. A spokesperson for Zoombak, which is commonly used to track kids, says it was the most unusual use of their product.

For now, it looks like Dillie has found an unlikely permanent home. Her adopted mother says it's not ideal, but it's her home now.

"It just happened and she's so much a part of our family that we just can't imagine any other way at this point."