I'm sure the deer would appreciate a dog, even if they did not find it tasty!
DW won't have pets associated with the house or garden on account of her allergies. Gotta get bambi blaster working again next spring.
Weather here continues to be only slightly more moderate than yours. Light frosts at night, sixties and seventies during the daytime. But the soil right now is moist from rain within the last week.
I know I need to spend some time, effort, and money on mulch. Just haven't quite got there yet.