Family heartbroken after RSPCA took their beloved pet fox away

A family who run an exotic animal rescue centre from their home are heartbroken after the RSPCA ordered them to hand over their pet fox. Animal lover Dave Robinson took in 18-month-old Scarlett three months ago after he answered a post from a woman on a Facebook page who needed to give her up. Scarlett was born in captivity and has never lived in the wild. Scarlett’s parents were also captive. Kind-hearted Dave took Scarlett into his home in Failsworth, Oldham, Greater Manchester, where she lived in a 12ft by 12ft enclosure which is 6ft in height. And Dave, his partner Paula and their son Harry all grew attached to Scarlett.



However that turned to anguish when the RSPCA turned up at the property and ordered the family to surrender Scarlett. Dave understands a neighbour is likely to have complained to the RSPCA and that Scarlett is now living at a sanctuary with other foxes. Dave said: “I volunteered to take Scarlett in because I knew we had the room and I really wanted to help. She is a hand-reared fox who has never lived in the wild so she needed to be in the right environment. Over the last few months we grew really fond of her, she became like a family pet more than an animal we have rescued. “She was so comfortable around me and even took food from my hand.”



The family have an arrray of animals living with them, including 28 giant African land snails, two red-eyed tree frogs, eight stick insects, two chipmunks, two barn owls, five tortoises, 11 turtles, eight lizards, three snakes, five tarantulas, five rats, hundreds of hissing cockroaches, two chickens, three dogs, four cats, a rabbit and a number of fish. Dave said: “I built a bond with Scarlett for her own good. She’s never been in the wild so I wanted her to get used to being around humans and now she really is. Upset would be an understatement, we’re absolutely heartbroken. It all feels very unjust, a vet never actually came out to look at Scarlett, the RSPCA just took her away.



“I love animals, they’re an enormous part of my life so this is very upsetting. Foxes are not pack animals, when you see a fox they’re on their own. I’m worried what impact suddenly being around so many other foxes will have on Scarlett.” An RSPCA spokesperson said: “The fox was voluntarily given over to the RSPCA and has now been placed at a specialist fox sanctuary, where she is being cared for by a team of experts. Discussions are ongoing with an individual who was previously responsible for the fox. Foxes are wild animals, they are not domestic pets, and where possible the RSPCA believes they should be where they belong, in the wild. Where that absolutely isn’t possible, because they have been orphaned and hand-reared for example, they must have their needs met including their need to exhibit normal behaviour.”