The fox and the hound
Orphaned vixen’s amazing bond with Jack Russell terrier
THEY’RE happy to engage in rough and tumble, and even spring into the air to catch a ball, just like any pair of playful dogs. But the bond between these two scamps is an unlikely one – for one is a Jack Russell terrier and the other is a young vixen.
Just as in the children’s cartoon film The Fox And The Hound, the animals, which might normally be considered enemies, have become firm friends.
The vixen, Anuska, was orphaned days after her birth when her mother was run over by a car. But fortunately Sadie the terrier was on hand – or should that be paw? – to fill the gap.
The two have become inseparable, and even go out on walks together with their owner, art teacher Brian Bevan, who says that eight- month- old Anuska has become as obsessed with catching balls as ten-year-old Sadie.
‘It’s hardly surprising to see a dog jumping around but watching a fox do it is something else,’ said Mr Bevan, 62, f rom Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.
‘Anuska loves playing catch. She could do it all day long. She leaps for the ball but she also likes berries, so she’ll happily jump to pick those off branches too.’
Anuska and eight other cubs were rescued by a farmer who dug them out of their den after recognising their mother’s body on a road. Their first few days were spent in the company of the farmer’s labradors, helping them feel at ease with dogs from early on. All were found homes, including Anuska, who was taken in by Mr Bevan and his wife Jacky.
While the dog and fox are similar sizes, Sadie tends to win play fights – but Anuska displays some natural cunning when it comes to the important matter of meal times.
Mr Bevan said: ‘When she hears me putting anything out she darts over straight away. If I have food on me she’ll even jump up at me and stick her nose in my pocket to try to find it.’
He added: ‘The second we introduced Anuska to Sadie they got on really well and played happily together. There was no hostility, they took to each other brilliantly.’
Foxes have become increasingly bold in recent years as they hunt for food in urban areas, and have been known to attack humans occasionally. But Mr Bevan had no concern about taking one into his home. ‘I’d actually always wanted a fox, so when this opportunity came about I was thrilled,’ he said.