Fox castration

Re: Fox castration

Robin Grimmer — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 11:14:40 GMT

Thanks for your replies. This forum is great!

Re: Fox castration

Niall Taylor — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 10:34:31 GMT

Have a look at the Dangerous Wild Animals act 1976, about 1/3rd of the way down. According to this, a license is not needed to keep a fox in captivity:

"Foxes, raccoon dogs and the domestic dog (but not the dingo) are excepted."

Cheers,

Niall

Re: Fox castration

HMC — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 08:52:23 GMT

At a recent CPD, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was mentioned and I had a very quick skim through it. Basically it names the species that cannot be 'taken' from the wild (subject to lots of subclauses in the legal manner). Vulpes vulpes is not listed so my guess would be that there is no legal reason they are breaking the law (but one CPD evening does not make me an expert).

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

Re: Fox castration

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:52:23 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]

I see your point, but this fox could never be released now. They seem responsible people, and the fox seems happy to live in their menagerie and plays with the other dogs. So I'm not sure it would be happier going to live in a sanctuary.

[/quote]

I don't think it will stay happy.

Re: Fox castration

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:34:44 GMT

[quote user="Stephen Courtney"]The best thing they could do with the animal would be to hand it over to a wildlife rescue for some sort of rehabilitation, or at least allowing it to live as normal a life as possible.[/quote]

I can think of one better.................

Re: Fox castration

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:18:01 GMT

Re: Fox castration

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:13:05 GMT

Ring the RCVS and ask for legal advice on this.

We had a similar case where a client had 'rescued ' a female fox cub and wanted her neutered, also to have her anal glands removed.

I was advised by the RCVS that neutering could be justified as part of population control, but descenting would be considered a mutilation therefore unacceptable mutilation.

As an aside, the local wild life folk went nuts over the whole thing. In the long run we did not operate on this poor animal - never saw it again but i think another vet spayed it, and after a few more months she rather predictably ran off to the Downs and was never seen again.

Foxes make terrible pets, and dog foxes make terrible and extremely smelly pets. The best thing they could do with the animal would be to hand it over to a wildlife rescue for some sort of rehabilitation, or at least allowing it to live as normal a life as possible.

Even five years ago I would have neutered and probably removed anal glands without thinking twice. These days I would do neither - these animals are not suited to be pets and I would not encourage it in any way.

Re: Fox castration

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 16:39:09 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]Are they breaking the law, and would I be by castrating it?[/quote]If they request you to castrate it then I can't see how you'd be breaking the law and even if they were are you going to dob them? I'm sure you could do a Google search to find out if you're that worried but If they are acting responsibly which it seems they are then I'd just get on with it. If they're not and fox is a liability or stressed by its predicament then you may wish to take a different course of action. But there are plenty of idiots out there legally keeping exotic pets who are probably a lot more irresponsible.