Injured fox-what to do!?

[jenniprice]

I was driving to work yesterday and saw a fox walking along the road(quite a busy country road i use).
it was about 8.20am and light as day.
i know foxes are Nocturnal so was worried when i saw it.

I stopped and had a look and one of it's back legs was injured and holding it up.
i pulled over and called RSPCA but said unless i catch it there's nothing they can do.

I left it as looked healthy and thought will keep an eye out.

Anyway driving same way to work and saw it again today!
This time it was in field next to where was. it was just stood there looking at sheep. again it was light so i was even more worried.

I've called an animal rescue centre 2day and they're going to look today, but worry they wont find it as maybe hide?

Anyway my idea is maybe try catch it with food if see it again?
Is this a totally bad idea or worth it?
I know they can be viscious but i just worry bout it, as hate the thought of it in pain.
thought take blanket, cat box and garden gloves, and scraps of chicken and see if he's hungry and tempted by it.

the woman from resuce said if do catch it ring her or take to shelter nearby.
she said i could throw blanket over-depends how weak it is ofcourse, but bet by 2moz it will be hungry.

I just dont know what to do, i'm just sad and worried and want to help.
I'm just hoping the woman i spoke to is able to catch it...

[LoftyLottie]

No insults coming. But I thought hunting with dogs for foxes was illegal.

I agree the best way would be to put the fox out of it's misery. Shooting is probably the best option.

I am sure being hunted down by a couple of dogs their masters would be an enjoyable time for the dogs and their masters, but am not entirely sure that it would be a swift despatch for the fox (oh, but he would love being hunted down, especially if he is already distressed and injured), and being torn to bits by a couple of dogs is by far the best death.

I am not a do gooder by the way. I just don't believe in cruelty to animals and hunting with dogs is cruel.

I have risen to your bait. I think that is actually what you wanted Lankeela, by calling us do-gooders. You could have made the point, without trying to insult us.

[jenniprice]

Oh no I would never do that lankeela!
Maybe shot, but to be ripped apart by viscious dogs is a horrible way to die.
Anyway surely that is illegal now since banned fox hunting?

Like say it looked healthy still so maybe just pulled or strained it.

Thanks for links pbeach and icemaiden. Dont live in Bucks or anywhere on that other site, but this wildlife resuce i called seemed very helpful anyway.

I will just keep an eye out, it may recover and be fine.
i go that way every day so will look out for poor thing

[terambulan]

Pull into the nearest farm and they'll deal with fox. The end result by farmer/vet/rspca etc will be the same. Don't feed it as you are prolonging its agony.

[LoftyLottie]

He may well recover jenni. Let's hope so.

[lankeela]

Read my answer again. I said use the hounds to track it, then it can be despatched. By gun, by the kennel huntsmen. Quickest way to find it if it is badly injured. Or if you like just leave it and let it starve to death or die of gangreen.

[LoftyLottie]

I read your question again, Lankeela, and you didn't mention a gun. Perhaps you should have made it clear, because we all jumped to the same conclusion. Tracking a fox and shooting it if injured would seem fine to me.

However, there was no need to call people 'do gooders' in a derisory way!

I have no problems with being a softy where animals are concerned, or humans, actually!!

[LoftyLottie]

Off the subject Lankeela, but why are there still hunt kennels existing. Is there enough work for kennels to still operate. What are the dogs now used for. I know about various non blood sport hunts, but is that enough to retain kennels economically?

I am glad fox hunting has been banned, but my question has nothing to do with my feelings on this!!

[ganesh]

Loftie-the hunts still continue ,hadn't you realised?The police are unable or unwilling to stop them ,and lankeela thinks that tracking with dogs and perhaps being shot before they get a chance to rip it apart is a gentle end to this poor animals suffering. One would expect a jibe like"DO-GOODERS"from a hunt supporter,wouldn't we?
The comment of leave well alone is ridiculous,it isn't WELL is it?
It may be that it has aninjured leg which could be fixed easily or it may require being put to sleep in a humane fashion.But it is going to be hard to catch it and trying to do so will cause a lot of stress.
I agree,they always show animal groups like the RSPCA rescueing animals,on the tv but in reality they don't do that kind of thing.
Let us know what happens.

[GYMRAT]

be very carefull as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies


is a very real threat,i also love helping animals,but its not worth losing your life for!

[kitesurfer]

I think that this is a case of Karma for the fox. All the lives it takes itself just for fun. They are Vermin. They will kill an entire shed full of hens and just take one to eat. Let it suffer and die as god intended.

[garner]

There's always one!!!

[jenniprice]

Could say the same for us. The amount of food we waste!

Surely we are worse, we breed animals just to eat-not to have a life, then kill them to eat them, but sometimes don't even get to eat as there's too much to go around.

[kitesurfer]

well i am a vegetarian. The people in A & N are hypocrits. AAAAWWWWW we all care for animals and any act of cruelty is shocking and only done by the evil. Yet they are happy for pigs who are intelligent and self aware to be bred, live in horrible conditions, be brutally killed and then only 'eat the select cuts' to feed their fat lazy belly's.

It makes me sick

[ganesh]

Kitesurfer-i am veggie too. But your comment about the fox is a little harsh isn't it.? Yes, it's natural for a fox to kill and eat hens. The fact that it kills them all and only takes one is not a case of unnecessary cruelty. If it was able to it would kill what it could and then take one at a time to eat (if it had a fridge I'm sure it would store them until it was hungry again!!) It can't carry more than one in its mouth can it? I really don't think that the poor animal is suffering because of bad karma.

[kitesurfer]

oh well maybe we should start a new charity:

'Fridges for Foxes'

all donations go to buying fridges for foxes..

But seriously foxes are similar to Husky dogs. Evil scum

[ganesh]

husky dogs are evil scum?
Why?

[kitesurfer]

have no loyalty and prone to killing other household pets for no apparent reason.

[ganesh]

Really? Sounds a bit extreme to me. I know some husky dogs and they seem quite sweet. Maybe you should post your own question..
"husky dogs and foxes are evil scum" Discuss.
You don't sound like an animal lover to me.