Michigan Fox Lived In A Crate For Two Years, But A Trip To The Vet Unlocks Her Fierce True Spirit
After spending two years in a crate at a shut-down fur farm, a timid fox named Fiona finally found safety at a sanctuary. But it took a surprising setback to bring out her true, hilariously feisty personality.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
“Fiona is definitely our most spicy, feisty fox,” the owner and founder of Foxes Journey Sanctuary explains with a laugh.
Today, Fiona is a vocal, opinionated resident who isn’t afraid to tell her caretakers exactly how she feels. If she could talk, her rescuer jokes, she would ask them to just leave her food at the door and see themselves out.
But Fiona wasn’t always this bold and confident.
Her journey to the sanctuary began under incredibly grim circumstances. She was part of a massive rescue effort involving 30 foxes who had been kept illegally after a fur farm was shut down.
Scared And Scraggly
When Fiona first arrived at Foxes Journey Sanctuary, she was a shadow of the vibrant animal she is today.
She was significantly underweight and her coat was in poor condition. Her rescuer noted that “scraggly” was the best way to describe her appearance at the time.
Up to that point in her life, human beings had not been kind to her.
Because of her past trauma, Fiona was incredibly timid, shy, and unsure of her new surroundings.
Earning The First Bits Of Trust
In those early days, Fiona was so overwhelmed that she didn’t even want to eat.
Determined to help her survive, the sanctuary founder sat with her and patiently hand-fed her meals.
Slowly, that gentle dedication began to pay off. During her first week at the sanctuary, Fiona actually allowed herself to be pet.
She would even cautiously approach her rescuer, looking for small moments of attention and affection.
The Setback That Changed Everything
Just as Fiona was starting to open up, she had to be taken to the vet for necessary medical care.
For a normal pet, a vet visit is just a temporary inconvenience, but for Fiona, it was a massive trigger.
She had been kept in a tiny crate for the first two years of her life at the fur farm.
Suddenly being placed back into a crate for transport brought all those terrifying memories rushing back.
Finding Her Fierce Voice
The day after the vet appointment, Fiona made it very clear that she was not happy with her caretaker.
Instead of retreating into fear, however, she decided she was going to show off her attitude.
She began giving low growls, setting firm boundaries to let her rescuer know that this was her space and she didn’t want any visitors.
When spoken to, Fiona would literally bark back, loudly voicing her complaints.
The Signature Stomp
This newfound sass quickly became a permanent part of Fiona’s personality.
When she wants to show just how tough she is, she performs a hilarious signature move.
“She does what we call like a little bunny hop where she kind of, like, stomps on her front two feet,” her rescuer explains.
They have developed a highly unique bond where the founder loves Fiona deeply, even if Fiona pretends not to return the sentiment.
A Softer Side For Falcore
While Fiona might act tough with humans, she has a completely different demeanor with her own kind.
She saves her softer, sweeter side exclusively for another sanctuary fox named Falcore.
“That is her man,” her rescuer laughs, noting that Fiona protects him at all costs.
The dynamic between the two foxes is highly entertaining. As her caretaker describes it, Fiona is “the girlfriend who will get up and yell at the server” while Falcore sits quietly in the background.
Safe Enough To Be Sassy
Fiona has undoubtedly been the sanctuary’s toughest cookie to crack, but her rescuer wouldn’t have it any other way.
Trying to force her to be a cuddly, compliant pet would be doing her a massive disservice.
Instead, the sanctuary simply lets Fiona be exactly who she is, respecting her space and her boundaries.
By never backing down, Fiona proved that she finally feels secure. She knows she is safe, she knows she is home, and she knows she can be as sassy as she wants without ever being hurt again.
