Having a close relationship with a wild animal sounds like something out of a fairy tale, and while it does happen sometimes, it is not a common story.
Under Australia’s Rural Lands Protection Act of 1998, it is illegal to keep, sell, or let loose foxes because they hunt and kill native animals, which is bad for biodiversity. Because of this act, foxes only have two choices: they can either be left where they were found and can’t get veterinary care or be killed.
When a baby fox named Fergie was found without her mother, she was taken to a wildlife caretaker, who thought she was a puppy. Fergie’s life was saved by this mistake. As soon as Fergie got to the sanctuary, she became best friends with Phoenix, a girl who was 11 years old.
More info: greenerpasturessanctuary.org.au | Instagram | Facebook| H/T bored panda
Phoenix, an 11-year-old girl, and Fergie, a fox that was rescued, became the best of friends.
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Rachael, the CEO of Greener Pastures Sanctuary in Perth, Australia, to find out more about their story. She wrote, “Phoenix is my 11-year-old daughter, and she and Fergie have been close since the beginning! She can’t wait to see her every day, and Phoenix is the only person she’ll let carry her around.
Fergie had two options under Australian law: stay where she was or be euthanized.
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Even though foxes are considered wild animals, this is not the case in a place like Australia, which is a closed country. “In Australia, foxes are considered a pest animal, so it’s against the law to move them, keep them without a permit, or take them to the vet.”
“The law said that Fergie should have either been left where she was or put to sleep. Rachael said, “Thank goodness the person who found her didn’t know she was a fox.” They took her to a wildlife caretaker, who then got in touch with us.
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Thank goodness the person who found her didn’t know she was a fox.” They took her to a wildlife caretaker
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Australia wouldn’t give foxes a chance at a healthy and happy life, but sometimes miracles happen. “This was the first time we got to meet the beautiful Fergie Fox. You could be forgiven for thinking she was a tiny puppy, which is what her rescuers thought when they found her alone in the bush. “Lucky for Fergs!”
“Our laws say that a fox can’t move, so she would be left to die.” Rachael wrote that the same thing happens to many injured foxes, who aren’t even taken to a vet to be put to sleep in a kind way.
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
To save Fergie, Racheal took the fox into a farm animal sanctuary that she started and runs with her family.
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
“We run a sanctuary for farm animals and never thought we’d have to help foxes.” “We don’t like keeping animals in cages, but it was the better of two bad choices.”
“We work hard to make sure their living space is fun.” We spend time with them and give them things that are good for them. We’d love to make their enclosure better and bigger one day… “Last year, we had a lot of trouble with huge vet bills, so we’ll have to take care of those first,” Rachael wrote.
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Fergie and Phoenix, on the other hand, have become very close and spend a lot of time together.
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits:Â greenerpasturessanctuary
Fergie and Phoenix, on the other hand, have become very close and spend a lot of time together.
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
But nothing is as interesting for Fergie as her friendship with Phoenix
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
Image credits: greenerpasturessanctuary
