ATHENS, Ga. — The six-legged deer found in North Georgia has died following surgery to remove its two extra legs, which were hindering its gait.

The deer, called Spyder, died last week, two days after surgery.

The veterinary surgeons who performed the 3 1/2 hour operation on Aug. 18 at a private Athens animal clinic said Spyder seemed to be healing well but then died suddenly of what appeared to be a vascular problem.

The unusual deer was found July 18 by a couple whose dogs had chased it near Armuchee in Northwest Georgia, near the Chattooga-Floyd county line. They took the young deer to Dr. George Gallagher, a neighbor and animal scientist and researcher at Berry College. It was treated for minor injuries from the dogs, and sent to live with an Athens woman who has a permit to keep unique animals in captivity.