Boarding Foxes &

Foxes We’ve Helped

Remembering Todd & Vixie

Todd & Vixie were fennec foxes (Vulpes Zerda) and our very first boarding foxes long before Fox Friends Sanctuary started. They came to us from a friend who was looking to temporarily house her foxes for her wedding and then her big move to her sanctuary, A New Hope, in Athens Georgia.

Todd was what we call a spicy fox and only took to a very limited number of people. If he liked you, he loved you. He enjoyed going on walks with those he trusted and cuddling up with them, preferably in a blanket.

Vixie was shy but loved everyone. She would always excitedly squeal whenever someone even acknowledged her.

Todd and Vixie went home until the tragic loss of their owner. They were then taken to Animal Edventures, which remained their permanent home until passing.

Griffin

Griffin is a red fox (vulpes vulpes) and was from the same owner of Todd & Vixie, though his story is a bit different. While we were boarding Todd & Vixie we received a call from their owner regarding a fox that needed placement soon so that he didn’t end up in the wrong hands. Someone had listed Griffin (his former name we do not know) on Criagslist as a pet to the first person who showed up with $500. We couldn’t let him end up in the wrong hands so we went and got him.

Griffin is a spunky and loving guy. He has never met a stranger. Unlike any fox we’ve ever interacted with Griffin hardly flinched at any changes and was happy with anyone petting him.

After staying with us and getting a very much needed flea treatment, and better diet to address his poorly coat and tartar covered teeth, he went home to A New Hope. Then, just like Todd & Vixie, he also went to Animal Edventures. Where he still resides today.

Sunshine

Sunshine is a snow glow coloration of a red fox (vulpes vulpes) and her owner, who had recently moved to Florida from Indiana, was awaiting the arrival for her license from FWC when Sunshine got sick and needed vet attention. Unfortunately without a permit a veterinarian cannot legally see a fox, especially due to the fact they are considered a rabies vector. She reached out to us and temporarily surrendered her so that we could get her the care she needed.

After determining the cause of her illness (heartworms) and getting her treated she began to feel better. She stayed with us until her owner could provide documentation that she was now licensed.

Sunshine is a happy little fox and loves to scream for attention.

Remembering Gypsy

Gypsy was a marble fox coloration of a red fox (vulpes vulpes) and similar to Sunshine her owner also had recently moved to Florida and while waiting for her permit the owner noticed something odd... She appeared pregnant! This came as a shock because she was informed upon purchasing her that she was spayed. Though the owner also had an intact male fox, she had not even had Gypsy long enough for a pregnancy to occur. Not only that but it was way out of season - as red foxes only have kits in the spring. Due to this we recommended the owner to seek immediate veterinary care for Gypsy. Since they did not yet have a permit they were forced to surrender her to us for care.

As suspected Gypsy was pregnant and x-ray showed one developed fetus facing as if she was to give birth soon. Unfortunately ultrasound revealed what we had expected, the fetus had passed. When she went in for emergency spay we discovered her uterus had ruptured and the remains of the fetus were attached on the outside wall. It had already began to calcify and was nothing but a clump of indistinguishable flesh. It was clear she had been pregnant for some time.

This made everyone involved upset and angry that Gypsy had endured such undue stress and neglect from an irresponsible breeder. Moreover she was also malnourished, you could feel every bone in her little body, her coat looked so poorly and it felt like straw, she had staining on her eyes and feet, and her teeth were crooked and chipped - likely from yanking on wire to get out as we see that commonly. We were outraged to say the least.

Even so, Gypsy was so so sweet and took everything in stride. She was affectionate with almost everyone and never gave us a hard time. We loved her dearly and we were so happy to report that when she returned home to her owner she was looking better than ever!

Regrettably many months later she was taken to the emergency hospital and it was found she had a horrible blockage (item unknown) which perforated into her abdomen. At this time we had also discovered she only had one kidney and was struggling with low blood pressure as well as low white blood cell count. Due to the intensity of surgery and poor prognosis her owner made the heartbreaking decision to let her go. We remained by Gypsy’s side until her last breath and assured her owner she did the right thing. She will be very missed.