Extremely rare silver fox found in Cheshire

An extremely rare silver fox is being looked after by the RSPCA after it was discovered in a South Cheshire garden.

Silver foxes are the same as red foxes but are often bred for their fur and are now sometimes kept as 'pets'.

The "impressive-looking" animal, named Shadow by the animal charity, is thought to have been a family pet due to its tame temperament.

The RSPCA claim this is the only silver fox they have come across in 25 years. In medieval folklore, the animal is often portrayed as harbinger of doom to all who see it, however this has not stopped them becoming a popular choice for those who want an exotic pet in recent years.

Former RSPCA inspector Amanda Lovett helped to capture the animal, which was then taken from Dunnocksfold Road, in Alsager, to the charity's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in nearby Nantwich. She told Stoke Sentinel: "I was alerted to a post on a local Facebook group and it would seem the fox had been in the garden for most of the day on Saturday, one of the biggest nights for fireworks, and we knew we had to get the fox to safety."

She added: "I managed to safely catch the fox with a grasper and put him in a cat box before taking him to Stapeley Grange, who kindly stayed open later so he could be admitted. He was very quiet and seemed tame."

The placid nature of the animal may indicate he was a pet, and as such, the RSPCA has issued an advisory that anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet should fully research the animal's specific needs before buying one. An RSPCA spokesman said: "Exotic pets can live a long time, grow to a large size and need to be taken an exotics vet if they become ill, which can be expensive."

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