On 13th July 2024, it became clear I had made an error of misunderstanding with regards to a legal statement made in the support of an animal rescue that assisted Black Foxes UK in January and February of 2024 by providing a permanent placement for three unrealisable wild foxes that were living in captive in accommodation that was due to be terminated, at the request of two UK wildlife rescues.

All I will say regarding the blunder, is it that it was a genuine misunderstanding on my part and deeply regrettable. It was the 'opposition' as much as the 'defendant' that created my confusion with all the online claims, which was compounded by my lack of diligence on checking the call for support. The 'opposition' group discussing my statement online in poor conduct is also the only reason I know about my blunder and the rescue will not be aware.

I had assumed I was writing a statement for a situation occurring between neighbours and the rescue over complaints of noise, poor hygiene and animal abuse, as seen in the vast numbers of comments online from both parties and is indicated by my statement. Not a DWA Application, although I feel all such rescues ought to be brought under such licensing or similar, in order to regulate them, then given a year to meet the new licensing requirements.

I have since written to the council to clarify the situation. As stated in my letter to them, I stand by my statement for the purpose in which it had been written.

The fox enclosure in question met our minimum standards and it is as adequate as any UK rescue's enclosure. While basic, there is shelter outside the enclosure connected via a pop-hole, with climbing enrichment and 400 square foot of space. They receive daily interaction and the foxes appear happy and healthy, also considering their health conditions. They are very lucky foxes. This is a new rescue, they have time to develop on their enclosures and we trust they are doing this.

There are no legal minimum requirements for the housing of captive foxes. They can be kept like a dog without any protections, a situation one of the foxes came from, with an eviction imminent. It was an emergency intake or a PTS. At the request of two UK wildlife rescues, to assist three wild rescue foxes that cant be released and needed lifelong care. There was no space anywhere for them elsewhere and the rescues also vetted the move, along with their keepers, after a public call for assistance was put out, where only the defendant responded.

For anyone that has no idea - UK wildlife and animal rescue, as well as the entire veterinary sector, is in dire crisis. Many have already closed. Most have to refuse intakes as they are at capacity. There is no NHS for animals. A full rescue or vet practice has to turn away those asking for help. Most have no space for foxes, even without being at capacity. UK rescue is running on empty, constantly, with a greater and greater demand for their time and higher and higher costs.

It is so bad, that large wildlife rescues have asked for my assistance locating suitable emergency spaces for foxes. "We are not an animal capture organisation nor an animal rescue, despite aspirations. Assisting escaped and homeless silver foxes has been an informal response to a need on our part". We are an online education and citizen science website, without funds or resources. The CIC was a brief stint with an online store selling fox-themed jewellery, products and books, which was ultimately unsuccessful and closed in 2021.

There are few long term spaces available for foxes in the UK and more reputable rescues are closing under the strain, with more unregulated at-home-rescues setting up in their place (which is how all rescues start, but they have a learning curve to go through). It really doesn't matter if 'x rescue' is better than 'y rescue', as if neither have space, the fox will suffer or be humanely euthanised to end its suffering, regardless. Animal rescue is hard. and when you add all the social media and bot nonsense, it is easily overwhelming, anywhere in the world.

If you have a sick or tame wild fox and the rescues are full, there is no help. In such cases, you may be left to either watch it suffer or see it running through traffic, where it risks being snared or involved in a road traffic accident. Alternatively, you might attempt to catch it, treat it, or humanely euthanise it to relieve its suffering. However, diagnosing and treating foxes yourself not only breaches the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, but also risks prolonging its suffering, increasing disease resistance, and fails to address the environmental factors that may be contributing to its condition.

If you wish to assist, you must be prepared not only to capture the fox but also to cover the costs of its veterinary treatment and provide for its temporary care—potentially long-term, should it be unfit for release. Rescues often operate at capacity, and if they had available space, they would have intervened.

Legally, any rescue that catches a sick or tame fox with no available space may be required to euthanise it on welfare grounds. For this reason, rescues may have to turn away cases when they are full, as admitting additional animals might lead to the euthanasia of those currently in their care who cannot be treated due to space constraints. Some smaller rescues will make every effort to save lives, even if it means allowing minor suffering in the interim.

If you raised a wild fox and for any reason, cant keep it and the rescues are full, you may have to euthanise on welfare grounds also. The growing public ignorance of how animal rescue works, what resources are truly available and their growing expectations for free and immediate first-class assistance are not aligned with reality.

UK animal rescues are battling an unregulated and growing crisis.

The lack of regulation surrounding exotic animals and wildlife rescue—including the promotion of fox feeding, and the diagnosis and treatment of wild foxes by individuals without proper facilities or training—contributes significantly to the overwhelming burden faced by reputable rescues.

With appropriate regulation, keepers, breeders, wildlife rescues, and exotic animal rescues could be held accountable for any breaches of these standards. Currently, very few fox-focused wildlife and exotic animal rescues in the UK adhere to a specific standard, as no such standards exist legally. Zoos operate under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act to protect their animals, while standard pets benefit from numerous welfare protections. Animal rescue remains unregulated in the UK.

Even a basic licensing requirement would represent a marked improvement over the current lack of oversight. Under a licensing system, issues could be identified and addressed, and individuals could be held accountable for any failures to meet established standards.

Our new focus will be the push to develop membership for Black Foxes UK, to get the silver fox legally recognised and to get fox keeping regulated. We will continue to help them in a new way, moving forward! 

www.blackfoxes.co.uk