Animals cannot be put inside this vessel (8)
I believe the answer is:
decanter
'vessel' is the definition.
(decanter is a kind of vessel)
'animals cannot be put inside' is the wordplay.
'animals' becomes 'deer' (type of animals).
'cannot' becomes 'can't' (contraction).
'be put inside' is an insertion indicator.
'deer' enclosing 'cant' is 'DECANTER'.
'this' is the link.
(Other definitions for decanter that I've seen before include "Glass wine-holder" , "Type of bottle" , "Provider of drink" , "Ornamental bottle into which wine is poured slowly" , "Wine or spirits container" .)