What is the wildest, craziest pet that you know?
We have several animals that come to mind when we talk about pets. Dog, cat, hamster, fish, turtle, and so on. Some have farm animals as pets, like chicken, duck, turkey, pig, and horse. Others love to have reptiles and amphibians.
But could you imagine having a pet fox?
Foxes are considered wild animals in the United States, no matter the breed, and only 15 states allow private individuals to own foxes as pets. In other countries like Australia, they are considered vermin since they pose a threat to others, especially in the conversation of native wildlife.
In 2015, Rachael Parker found a fox and decided to take her in.
They named her Fergie. Rachael didn’t want Fergie to die, and she knew they could provide her with a better home. She runs Greener Pastures Sanctuary with a variety of animals that they rescued. She thought that Fergie was no different from all the animals they saved.
Fergie was nervous in her new environment, but not with Phoenix.
Phoenix is one of Rachael’s daughters, who is eight years old. Since she was little, she has always loved being around animals. She helped her mother take care of them – doing chores like feeding them or simply bonding with them.
This made Phoenix want to have a farm when she grows up.
Her love for all animals shows how she made time for them. It must have been a treasure for Rachael to see her daughter have that connection with them. Phoenix even said she wants more animals than they already have.
But among all 170 animals in the sanctuary, her bond with Fergie was the most special.
Rachael never imagined that the two would grow such a special and strong bond. She did not doubt that her eldest daughter would love Fergie, though she was apprehensive the poor fox would feel the same. It was only a matter of time before their love flourished.
You can tell how excited Fergie is whenever Phoenix comes to visit.
When the little girl calls out Fergie’s name, she starts running around the cage and making this happy chirping sound. And you know how Rachael could tell theirs is a special bond? Because Fergie only acts excited when it’s Phoenix and doesn’t act like that with anybody else.
Fergie became an integral part of Phoenix’s daily routine.
She wakes up in the morning to feed her pet fox and spends time with her. They are either playing with all the toys lying around or lying on the blanket next to each other. Phoenix loves it when Fergie climbs on her shoulders, snuggles with her, and begs for some pets and belly rubs.
Fergie is lucky to have a happy and loving home with the Parkers.
View this post on Instagram
The Greener Pastures Sanctuary is a family-owned 100-acre farm that aims to rescue animals of a wide range. They predominantly care for farm animals, but they also have dogs, cats, galahs, and rabbits in their care.
If you want to support and help their sanctuary, you can visit their website and make a kind donation.
