Charity to rescue very sick fox cub?

[Toby Tobias]

As an update I spoke today with the Park Warden and he advised that Eddie Williams did attend site this morning. He left medication, food and a container in which to try and trap the fox. The park warden is hoping that this evening (once the park is quieter) they will be able to locate and trap the fox, at which point Mr Williams will return to the park and take the fox to the sanctuary. If I have any further news I will post it here.

[susiq]

thanks toby tobias.

[tomskip]

Yes, good work Toby.

[pipsky2008]

I once called the R.S.P.C.A to an injured fox that I saw from my window, They came and took it away, probably to put it down as an act of mercy as the animal was poorly.

[Sue]

tomskip Wrote:

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> How would you propose catching the fox? I'm afraid

> it didn't occur to me that this might be something

> I could manage. I felt I had done my bit by

> alerting the park manager (who said she already

> knew) and trying to find someone who would come

> out to it.

xxxxxx

You did much more than most people would have done, tomskip.

Easy for people to say what they "would" have done.

[DJKillaQueen]

Efforts are being made to locate and help the fox by those who know what they are doing (I too had a chat with the park warden yesterday).

I've helped capture foxes before which is why I would have helped but it's not something many people would know how to do without knowledge.

[Penguin68]

Do not attempt to capture injured foxes, even cubs, if you don't have the right equipment and training - which includes very stout gloves and arm protection, a proper carrier to house the fox safely once captured, and probably nets and sacking etc. Handling wild animals (or domestic animals which have been injured and frightened) is a dangerous job. Foxes in particular, if they bite you, can carry dangerous toxins in their mouths which will require immediate (and not very pleasant) medical treatment.

[DJKillaQueen]

That's true for all wild animals.

[Penguin68]

The mouths of herbivores tend to be cleaner, although e.g. rabbits can give you a nasty bite. Carnivores (and omnivores) mouth's carry an even wider range of nasties. But you are right - any wild animal bite needs immediate precautionary treatment.

[Jeremy]

[Saffron]

susiq Wrote:

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> IF THE FOX IS SITED AGAIN PLEASE MAIL ME AND I

> WILL COLLECT IT AND TAKE IT TO VET, ALL VETS HAVE

> A DUTY TO TREAT ANY WILDLIFE BROUGHT TO THEM. ALL

> THE SAME I AM SURE MOST WOULD JUST PUT IT DOWN,

> THAMESMEAD VETS ARE REALLY GREAT THEY TAKE CARE OF

> ALL ANIMALS.

While it's a very noble thought that any vet would treat any wild animal, I don't think that's the case. There's definitely no legal obligation of which I know. In addition, most veterinary training involves domestic species, unless you specialise in wildlife. So, an ordinary vet might not even know what medications are suitable to particular wild species. Best to phone the vet ahead of time to check if they are able to assisst. xx

[TillieTrotter]

But DJKQ you did see this thread when it appeared. You commented on it the same day.

[grumpyoldman]

There was a dead fox cub in teh road opposite the school this morning

[DJKillaQueen]

No I saw it in the evening, not in the morning, when the foxes location was known. By late afternoon early evening the foxes location was unknown. I even took a walk over to the park when I saw the thread in case it was still there, to see for myself.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Wouldn't the kindest thing be to shoot the poor thing? It's apparently ailing, wounded, been set upon by dogs and distressed by humans trying to catch it - not a brilliant quality of life.

[El Horn]

I saw the fox at about 6pm on the road behind Dulwich Police station but unfortunately it ran behind a large bin and was out of my reach. Poor thing.

[Saffron]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> Wouldn't the kindest thing be to shoot the poor

> thing? It's apparently ailing, wounded, been set

> upon by dogs and distressed by humans trying to

> catch it - not a brilliant quality of life.

In theory, yes, that would work, but only if a clear kill shot could be taken. Otherwise, there's risk that the animal would be injured and escape wounded, making the scenario in fact worse. Also I think the legal red tape surrounding discharging a firearm for this purpose in London probably makes it impossible. Foxes are very resiliant, and if he could be captured there's still a chance he could be saved, or at least killed painlessly if he's too ill to hel. Poor thing.

[ed_pete]

As the fox is a wild animal and not an endangered species, surely the best option is simply to let nature takes its course. Isn't this just natural selection ?

[tomskip]

It seems unnecessarily cruel to let nature take its course when we have the resources near at hand to put an end to its suffering. Wild animals suffer pain and distress just as keenly as domesticated ones. Anyway, I hope its all over now.

[Sue]

El Horn Wrote:

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> I saw the fox at about 6pm on the road behind

> Dulwich Police station but unfortunately it ran

> behind a large bin and was out of my reach. Poor

> thing.

xxxxxx

Are you sure that was the same fox?

Surely it's unlikely that it could have got that far?

There are loads of foxes about!

ETA: If there was a dead fox cub near the school, then I'd have thought that was most likely the one in question as it's quite unusual to see dead foxes around. At least it is no longer suffering.

[Toby Tobias]

Having spoken to the park warden's office today it would seem they have still not located the fox which was the subject of the first thread here by tomskip. They advised me that once they have some firm news they will leave a message on the notice board outside their office so that all of us who are interested will know the outcome.

[rspcalondonsoutheast]

UncleBen Wrote:

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> Vet would be a waste of time-they don't care about

> animals unless they get paid a fortune. Vetinery

> medicine is no longer a vocation, just a money

> maker. Poor cub.

Vets have a duty to treat wildlife free of charge.

[Foxhelp]

Oh, I was told by The Neighbourhood Vets on Barry Road that they had never been asked to rescue abandoned wildlife and they had no idea what to do with abandoned fox cubs. Maybe you should inform the local vets of their duty rspcalondonsoutheast? It is a pity you didn't respond to my previous thread, your input would have been invaluable.

[civilservant]

rspcalondonsoutheast, can you clarify, please?

I see this advice on http://www.helpwildlife.co.uk/findinghelp.php which looks like a reputable and informative site

"There is a common myth that vets are obliged to treat wildlife for free. In fact they are obliged only to relieve suffering. This may lead to casualties being euthanized unnecessarily. If you do contact a vet, you should either have a wildlife rescue on standby to take the casualty to after initial treatment or ensure that the vet has good links with a local rescue and will pass the casualty on to them."

The same page has advice for people wondering what to do when they find a wild animal in need of help together with links to help find their nearest wildlife rescue.

I do hope someone locates this poor fox and does whatever needs to be done to help it. I'll keep an eye out myself.

[Bessie1974]

Maybe a bow and arrow is the solution.