A Nottinghamshire couple have expressed concern after their 16-year-old Jack Russell was attacked by a fox during a walk. Builder, Steve, 63, and his wife, Leanda Hillier, 59, of Coddington, near Newark, were walking their dog 'Ampy' in the field near their home on Sunday, April 23, when a fox suddenly attacked him.
Steve said: "We were In the field at the back of our house where we walk Ampy, he was only about 8 feet in front of me when the Fox ran out of the woods, knocking him to the ground and biting him, piercing the skin. I shouted and ran towards him and he ran off back into the woods.
"My dog ran down to the house and then my wife went in and bathed him, then she rang the vet and was told to go in in the morning which she did and they gave him antibiotics. He said he thought he seemed quiet and nervous, which I agree with as he’s been very timid since."
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Steve explained that about a week before they had seen a fox in the same field, but it was about 40 feet away from them and just stood and stared. Speaking of the incident, Steve added: "We’ve never seen such a big fox, he just wanders around the field, doesn’t seem to be scared at all."
The couple also have chickens and found a dead chicken last week, which they suspect could be linked to the fox.
A spokesperson for The Fox Project, a specialist charity for foxes, stated that: "Foxes will normally avoid dogs and cats, both of which are more likely to do the fox harm than the other way around." Regarding the incident experienced by Steve and Leanda, they added: "There are only two explanations I can think of for this.
"Firstly, a fox that’s been hit by a car and brain damaged / or brain damage caused by toxoplasmosis. Secondly, and more likely, because it perceived the dog as a threat to infant cubs that might be situated close by, and we are in the breeding season."
The charity also issued some guidance for someone in a similar situation. They stated: "Our general advice would be for the person to make themselves look as large and active as possible. One means would be whirling a coat or jacket around their heads to confuse the animal and intimidate the animal.
"Another would be to carry a powerful water pistol. However, if this is happening randomly, one can’t expect the entire population of Newark to be ready to behave in this way at a moment’s notice or to carry water-based weaponry at all times."
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