 While plans were under way to secure funding for the restoration of the carousel , efforts were made to find some missing animals . By studying old photographs of the carousel , it was determined there had been three deer or stags which had not been found in the park district storage building . No one at the park district knew of their whereabouts , and some employees believed the animals had disintegrated . As well as the missing deer , two horses were missing . The museum contacted local newspapers , which published stories on the efforts to restore the carousel . The reports mentioned the missing animals , and that the museum was trying to locate them . An anonymous tip received in December 1973 revealed the deer were used in the annual Christmas Gift and Hobby Show , where they served as escorts for Santa Claus . Compton was able to secure the animals from the park district for the museum . 
