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Fennec Fox as a Pet

Matt Van Hoven

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October 19, 2007

You may not be familiar with the Fennec Fox, but this furry little gremlin is fast becoming a popular pet.

Believed to be an ancestor of the Chihuahua, Fennecs are the world's smallest canine. They belong to the fox family, a fact some say means they shouldn't be allowed as pets.

26 states allow the foxes, many of which require an exotic pet license. Agility and cunning are the animals' best defense – and an endless supply of energy means that if they escape, there's little chance of being caught again.

The “Desert Fox” is native to Northern Africa, where it's regularly hunted for it's pelt. As a result, Fennecs have been listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) list of threatened animals since 1985.

But increased breeding in the United States could change that. Owners claim to have taught them to fetch and even use a litter box.

They weigh up to three pounds, and with fur that covers even the bottoms of their feet, Fennecs are pretty cute.

This isn't the type of pet you'd want to carry around the mall. Fennecs require elaborate enclosures – they like to jump, scurry and burrow. So pet lover beware – do your homework before buying one.

Do you think this endangered species should be allowed as a pet? Tell us what you think by posting comments under this story.

You can submit your pet videos at the zootooTV tab. Email us with story ideas at news@zootoo.com or call us at 877-777-4204.



Tags

fox, exotic, fennec, chihuahua, endangered species, other pets

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SABRINA W.
SABRINA W. (SABRINALWOODS)
1 year ago
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Exotics should not be pets we have enough domesticated animals with out homes.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Wesley
Wesley (wesleysecco)
1 year ago
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Why not?
 
JudyNBob
JudyNBob
1 year ago
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I am against having exotics as pets no matter how cute and fuzzy they are!
 
Pattyr
Pattyr
1 year ago
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this should be illegal! these are wild animals and they should be domesticated.
 
Wesley
Wesley (wesleysecco)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 1 user liked it.
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On the contrary they are very domesticated. What about that cute little puppy? They still have instincts. . .
 
emtterri
emtterri
1 year ago
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awwww...i want one
 
Wesley
Wesley (wesleysecco)
1 year ago
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They are extremely like a dog with the agility of a cat. They are extraordinary pets, but you must give them a lot of love and time.
 
Lisa
Lisa (Puparazzi)
1 year ago
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It does not sound think this is a very good pet, if you have to worry about it escaping. Aren't there enough animals in the shelter?
 
Stephanie S.
Stephanie S. (steffycna)
1 year ago
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no,no, put these animals in the wild were they need to be.
 
janicevarley
janicevarley
1 year ago
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We're all here because shelter animals need love. I wish everyone knew that...
 
Bailiesmom
Bailiesmom
1 year ago
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Why when we have millions of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals that need homes are we trying to domesticate another type of animal?
 
Jessica R.
Jessica R. (jdraygor)
1 year ago
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doesnt sound like a very good pet to have
 
betty p.
betty p. (peytonplace2001)
1 year ago
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Some folks have trouble keeping their dogs and cats in or on their property. Don't need more problems. And if they are that small and get lost, they will make something a good meal which is sad as they are not use to taking care of themselves if they are pets.
 
Getta S.
Getta S. (gettadog)
1 year ago
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Better yet , DON"T buy one !Leave these little critters with mother nature as she can provide for them and care for them better than people can!
 
Wesley
Wesley (wesleysecco)
1 year ago
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Mother nature CANNOT care for them here in America. Since they are regulated for fur trade, these animals cannot leave or enter America. So what about those little ones that are being born here? Wouldn't you rather see them in the hands of a loving home than the first rich person to buy one? The breeder will sell them regardless.
 
Margene W.
Margene W. (mwhitt)
1 year ago
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Agility and cunning are their forte'--as if we need more pets that can out fox us!!! :)
 
Koronin
Koronin
1 year ago
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They are cute, but they are also wild animals.
 
Ed D.
Ed D. (MrEd)
1 year ago
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The Wikipedia article on them says they're rare but not endangered, and it makes them sound like they're becoming at least semi-domesticated. My first reaction is no, we shouldn't keep wild animals. But the "Russian Fox Farm experiment" showed that foxes can become very dog-like in relating to people. And we have plenty of other pets that aren't remotely domesticated (snakes, rats, ....) As for ancestors of the Chihuahua, forget it. The genetics doesn't support that.
 
Beaglepawz
Beaglepawz
1 year ago
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They are endangered and shouldn't be kept as pets. People are bredding them her and that concerns me - we all know how puppy mill breeders enhance the gene pool of the dogs they breed!
 
Baileejean
Baileejean
1 year ago
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They are cute, but I don't think they will make good pets. Besides teh fact that I don't agree with keeping exotic animals as pets, these guys sound like they would be a world of trouble to control and care for.
 
LettyGalbraith
LettyGalbraith
1 year ago
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Cute? Yes. Pets? No. I am against keeping exotic animals for pets.
 
Wesley
Wesley (wesleysecco)
1 year ago
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There once was a time that cats and dogs used to be exotic as well!
 
karen
karen (TheThompsonFamily)
1 year ago
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Is this animal truly domesticated or are people once again forcing animals from the wild to live and perform under the roof?
 
PackLeader1
PackLeader1
1 year ago
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Exotic animals should not become pets.
 
Wesley
Wesley (wesleysecco)
1 year ago
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There was once a time when cats and dogs were exotic animals as well!
 
gracie88
gracie88
1 year ago
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I would love one, but would never keep an exotic pet...
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
AshleynSchroeder91
AshleynSchroeder91
1 year ago
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I think that if Fennecs were allowed as pets, they would become unendangered, for lack of a better word.
 
groovygirl
groovygirl
1 year ago
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I just hope the people who want these as pets do their research and care for them properly.
 
ourstaff
ourstaff
1 year ago
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What would happen if a number of these foxes got lose. Would they be able to care for themselves? Would they create feral populations like cats. I think that people need to know more about the animals before they get them.
 
Bob C.
Bob C. (rjcronk)
1 year ago
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As long as the person is repsonsible and it does not harm the animal I beleive so.
 
Karen S.
Karen S. (ksnider)
1 year ago
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ZI don't mind if these endangered speecies are kept as pets alothough I would not want one - especially if they are hard to retrieve if they escape!
 
JeepersKitty
JeepersKitty
1 year ago
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Oh my, they are adorable! But I hate to think of how poorly they would be cared for at the hands of the uneducated (and let's face it, the majority of people purchasing these animals would be uneducated to their care)
 
sollis
sollis
1 year ago
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The fact that they're an endangered species is enough. They shouldn't be allowed as pets. It's very wrong to tame a wild animal in hopes of keeping it as a 'pet.' There are lots of dogs, cats, rabbits and other critters that desperately need homes. Pets should not be used as status symbols.
 
mudmama
mudmama
1 year ago
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why can't people just have dogs or cats, why get into animals like this. not a good pet.
 
makenna
makenna
1 year ago
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I GUESS THIS WILL PET OF THE YEAR WHERE EVERYBODY WILL WANT ONE THEN WHEN IT GETS OLD THELL DUMP THEM CAUSING ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR HUMANE SOCICITYS
 
Dee
Dee (nycatlover)
1 year ago
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What do they do if they get out? I need to stick with the more traditional pets.
 
law129
law129
1 year ago
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with as amny homeless animals that we have, lets leave the endangered ones out as pets.
 
CORIU
CORIU
1 year ago
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endagered species should not be pets
 
kiersten b.
kiersten b. (kierstb)
1 year ago
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hope they know how to care for it!
 
LettyGalbraith
LettyGalbraith
1 year ago
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It doesn't say if the Fennecs are at all responsive to humans. Do they like to be petted and cuddle? Do they go for walks, play fetch? What are they giving back except being cute and expensive? This sounds like just another fad and an animal that should be left in its natural environment.
 
Charlotte C.
Charlotte C. (es392)
1 year ago
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It's never safe to bring an exotic animal to another continent especially a wild one. This will only cause trouble in the future.
 
Amber K.
Amber K. (coolcat707)
1 year ago
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i think this is weird, what happend to the regular dog and cat?? i dont think that any animal that is meant to be wild right now should stay that way.
 
ahughes
ahughes
1 year ago
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I don't support the use of endanered species as pets, however, we have to look at the lesser of 2 evils.

Lose a species for lack of interests, or save it through commercial breeding.

I am on the fence on this one.
 
Lisa
Lisa (Spaceylisa)
1 year ago
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I think he is the cutest little thing. But to me there are so many dogs and cats that need home I would rathere see people get them.
 
nurse4u92
nurse4u92
1 year ago
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Part of responsible pet ownership usually means spaying/neutering.If these little guys are endangered,it doesn't seem right to spay or neuter them.Because they are endangered,they are also probably exotic, and usually the animals in those types of situations, never have a happy ending.
 
michelle w.
michelle w. (poundpup1973)
1 year ago
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I never even heard of this critter
 
maxinerauh
maxinerauh
1 year ago
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again- people should not keep endangered animals as pets.
 
kroeger
kroeger
1 year ago
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The person who wrote this story doesn't seem to have appropriate knowledge in me about the fennec. Do you disregard the history to which the fennec has already been bred as a pet? It is a large problem if a wild fennec is caught indiscriminately now, and it is
assumed the pet. The fennec bred as a pet is the having been bred one, and no wild fennec.
It is difficult to breed a wild fennec as a pet. A lot of people will not know the fact.

It is not an animal that can keep it because it is lovely. A wild fennec is aggressive, and doesn't become accustomed like the pet. The reason why they are kept as a pet at a lot of homes is then that the fennec to know there is a history bred as a pet, and coexistence with man such as dogs and cats.

it is wrong to ask right or wrong of breeding by the reason only of endangered species. After first studying the difference of the fennec bred as a wild fennec and a pet, you should write this story.

As for Related Video, are not you using others' images without permission? In other places, I have seen the fennec that appears in Related Video. Are you disregarding the copyright?
 
kroeger
kroeger
1 year ago
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The person who wrote this story doesn't seem to have appropriate knowledge in me about the ennec. Do you disregard the history to which the fennec has already been bred as a pet?

it is wrong to ask right or wrong of breeding by the reason only of endangered species. It might be not appropriate now if a wild fennec is caught indiscriminately and it makes it to the pet by force. However, the fennec that has already been bred as a pet is different from a wild fennec.

Are not you using others' images without permission?
 
Kathy
Kathy (Hisgr8love)
1 year ago
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Reply
I don't think that they should be in the home as pets but darn, they are cute little critters!
 
philter
philter
1 year ago
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What better way to preserve a species than to domesticate it? How many dogs or cats would be around if they were never domesticated? Probably not many at all.
 
pigmother
pigmother
1 year ago
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they are so cute!! i do not think they should be bred for ets.
 
Meghan
Meghan (mcatlover)
1 year ago
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It's a wild animal!
 
kittypassion
kittypassion
1 year ago
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They need to be in their natural habitat and protected since they are endangered.
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