Remember that oft-repeated story about the Soviet silver fox experiment?
Every time I mention it, I get a query about where you can get one.
When I first started writing about them, I found that they weren’t exporting them to the United States. They were offered for sale as pets, but there were fears that they would become a mass-produced fad pet– like African hybrid hedgehogs and pot bellied pigs.
Well, now there is a company that is offering them for sale in this country.
I won’t be getting one for two simple reasons.
1. They are a bit costly: $5,950.
2. I live in a state that refuses to offer any permits for pet red foxes. We have had a rabies outbreak in the southeastern part of the state, so the DNR no longer offers permits for pet red or gray foxes, raccoons, or skunks.
So if you want a pet fox in West Virginia, you better get a Pomeranian.
Just not the Pomeranian that this Chinese man purchased.
What’s the personality of a tame fox? Do they basically act like just a dog, or are there special considerations for training/living with one?
http://sibfox.com/caring/
They don’t mention if their foxes smell or not… I’ve heard that foxes can be quite ‘musky’.
Especially the dog foxes.
Coyotes have a very similar smell.
I had bantered the idea of thinking of those little guys as pets when I watched the Secret Life Of Dogs, but I admit I’d probably not be a good home for a fox, even a tame friendly one. The site makes it sound so easy to keep one, but there’s something back there that just reminds me that these aren’t your average “cat-like dog” animals, although Chows are supposed to be of a similar temperament. Sure is fun to think about though.
Plus, the next thing you know, EVERYONE will be wanting one, or at the very least, someone will be out to steal yours
Poor fox in that 4th picture really needs it’s nails done.
I’m thinking they are more like the New Guinea singing dogs, which you can buy as a pet:
http://newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org/Living.html
All the photos are of animals who appear to be frozen in submission and/or fear.
“Tame” is, perhaps after all, not the same thing as domesticated.
Raised in wire cages until 4 months, then shipped halfway across the world — like getting a puppy from an online puppy-mill, except it’s a fox, and you’ve not only never owned a fox, you’ve probably never *met* a fox and have no idea about its needs. (“You” the buyer.)
The care advice on the website is significantly less detailed or helpful than what one would expect from a minimally diligent breeder of any specific breed of dog. I don’t think this company knows one thing about these animals.
I like how they use the term “adoption,” too.
I’m also skeptical that all of these are genetically tame foxes.
I thought the lines that produced the genetically tame variety were all silvers, but I’m seeing normal reds and cross foxes in those photos.
I think some Russian fur farms need to get rid of some inventory, but I thought fur was coming back in fashion (at least it was last year.)