Saturday 5 December 2009

The Quick Brown Fox Jumped...

Photos copyright: Maggie May

The picture above was taken by me while I was out walking with the grandchildren on a lovely Autumn day. Just one of several lovely paintings on boards near some allotments.
This happened before cancer seemed to take over my life and the post has been in my draft folder for some while. So it is time to give it an airing.

Regular readers will remember that I have had a fox coming to my garden at night bringing in eggs and digging up borders and turning over pots.
Most of the time I have discovered these things during the daytime after the fox has left. Only once did I catch his attention one evening when I looked out of the window while he was drinking from the mini pond and we looked each other in the eye for a good while before he turned to run down the garden and over wall into next door.

However, the other morning I was looking through window at the garden again and I saw the fox lazing in the sun as bold as brass. He looked rather like a pet corgi lying there on the patio.
I ran to get my camera but knew that if I opened the back door he would run away. Hence the foggy photo through my not so clean window!
Eventually the fox got up and jumped the wall next door again, swiftly followed by me and my camera. No not over the wall........ to the point where it jumped over.
The sight of me freaked the animal out and it decided to jump the fence again and disappeared into another neighbour's garden further along the terrace, well out of sight.

A few days later after I had finished my dinner time job, I saw him on our road just sitting there and not running away from me. It was then that I noticed that he didn't look very well. His eyes were half closed and his brush was thin and tatty.

He was seen yet again in my back garden when I was talking to a friend the other day and he came right up to the window and was biting his mange pitifully. He is worse off than me. There is no treatment for him.






29 comments:

RNSANE said...

Well, it sounds like your fox is ailing...and maybe he is not finding food. Kind of sad.

Hope you're holding up, Maggie...I'm holding you close, with loving good wishes and lots of prayers.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Lovely lovely post. I love foxes but I saw more in suburban London than here in the country!

I hope you are bearing up well Maggie. I think of you often and having gone through my recent scare and the worry that goes with it, I can empathise how you must be feeling.

Love and hugs. X

Ayak said...

I was just wondering if the RSPCA would rescue him?

Akelamalu said...

I love that picture, it's so colourful!

We had a fox in our garden some time back and when we went out it wasn't fazed at all - just stood and stared at us!

I'm thinking of you Maggie and sending you Reiki every day. xx

Formerly known as Frau said...

I hope the fox is okay and you as well. I love the pictures. Have a wonderful weekend!

Suburbia said...

Isn't he beautiful? The mange is so sad, it must be such a horrible way to go. I wish there was something we could all do. I believe it is treatable, if there was some sort of liquid drug that could be left out for them? I guess it would be impossible.

Hows things this weekend? Often thinking of you all.

Word verification = malinged, sort of sounds like the foxs condition?

Nessa said...

It's a cute garden photo, though. Poor fellow.

Santa Cartoon Riddle

Rose said...

Oh, the poor thing! Farmers around here don't like foxes, but I think they're such pretty animals. I wonder, too, if there is some sort of rescue group or animal control that could take him in and treat him?

Wishing you a good weekend, Maggie.

Sandi McBride said...

Perhaps if you left him a bit of dogfood (dry) it would help him...may not be mange, but side effects from hunger...we leave dogfood out for the fox and vixen in our woods...hope you are feeling better and taking care of yourself!
warm hugs
Sandi
ps
believe it or not, my verification word is mayfly...how apt!

Jinksy said...

My neighbour, and good friend, has just completed eight chemo sessions for lymphoma, and although her hair became more sparse, it never disappeared, nor did her eybrows or eyelashes. I guess I can link her to your lastest post by saying she's one foxy lady! :)

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Dearest Maggie...You are so upbeat, and positive...I admire you immensely! I love your fox stories...although I wish there were something I could do to help him...just as I wish I could wave a wand and make you better!!!! I am so glad that you will be starting treatment...something very encouraging about being proactive!!! You KNOW you are and will continue to be in my prayers throughout...

The photos were fabulous, btw...and I LOVED this post!!! Wish I had a "pet" garden fox ;-) Love you!! Janine XO

aims said...

I did a quick bit of research and came up with the following link for you Maggie.

http://foxwoodrehab.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/treating-sarcop.html

I know you are feeling for the fox as we all are. There is a bit of hope for it but you would have to get the medicine and put it in food for it. Read the link anyway and see what you think.

Know how you are feeling. Now as always. Positive positive positive.

Make that your mantra every morning dear one.

Rosaria Williams said...

There must be areas around that have diminished their natural habitat. It's visiting for a good reason.

Brian Miller said...

i know foxes can be a pest, but they are so pretty, i do feel a tad sorry for your fox...

Mimi said...

Poor fox, not a nice way to go.

Maggie, you're such a kind person, I really hope that the treatment goes well for you, and is not too severe. Some people seem to sil throught it, that's what I'm wishing for you, and still sending you love and light.
Take care, you're special.(((((((hugs)))))))

Wendy said...

He does look just like a dog sitting in all his splendor on your back patio! I'm glad you got his pic and those circles? Oh, they're fairy lights to be sure!

I do like your pic (the one you took in the autumn). It looks like it shows all 4 seasons in one!

Hope things go well for poor foxy. You've been given all sorts of ideas. I will check out that link too and see what they offer. We had a fox around here last fall. He was beautiful, but I think he was responsible for biting my drainpipes - trying to eat chipmunks or mice hiding inside.
HAHA - my word verification is: potion! Well, I hope you get some good potions for foxy and even better ones for you!

Thumbelina said...

Aww, that's sad that is. And since he is wild it would be unwise to try and get near to get more information. The most you could do is call the RSPCA I think.

But it's not a bad shot considering it's through a window! He must be quite sick really to risk coming so close to you. I think he might be asking for help poor thing...

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...

SandyCarlson said...

I am sorry he is not well. I wonder if he was drawn to your garden. He looks like he belongs there.

I hope you are bearing up well. You remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Bernie said...

I love the drawing Maggie, it is wonderful.
The fox story is quite sad really, here in Canada we have a S.P.C.A. who comes and picks up the animals and if they can help they do and then release them back into their natural habitat....I think he must be hungry.
Be well my friend, think of you each day with positive thoughts and you and Harry are always in my prayers....:-) Hugs

Jackie said...

Maggie...I think that the fox looks like a little dog, also...
He's so cute all curled up like that...and my eyes water as I think of him suffering. I wish there was something someone could do. You did a good job of taking the photo through your window. He seems to feel safe at your place....and why not. You are a kind a compassionate lady.
I hope that you feel the love and the hugs and most of all the prayers for you. I just know that God is going to work a wonderful miracle through your life, Maggie...I just feel it.
Much love to you...
Jackie

Working Mum said...

Award for you over at my place.

Unknown said...

Wow. That picture is good despite the foggy window! I can not believe how 'friendly' he is! He really does look like a Corgi! Wow.

Praying for you and thinking of you often!

Expat mum said...

They're quite pretty aren't they? Pity they can't be domesticised (or whatever the word is). They would make a good size dog. Poor thing.

MarmiteToasty said...

(((Maggie)))) all my love and strength I am sending you....

I dread foxes cos of me chickens, touch wood we aint had one in the garden for yonks, but I do see them sitting out on the drive opposite my house and I do hear them howling at night....

What a great photo...

know you are in my thoughts, you can do this girl, you truely can....

x

Suldog said...

Maybe you can't help his mange, but maybe you could give him a treat to make his time a bit nicer? Maybe leave a little something for him one night? Just a thought.

Hilary said...

Aww I can tell you feel for the poor beast. I imagine there's not much you can do to improve its health but a treat or two (those eggs he seemed so fond of) might help him to feel better.

I'm keeping you close in my heart, Maggie. I hope that your own treatments will go smoothly for you.

Marguerite said...

Lovely post and such a cute little fox. Sending you lots of good thoughts and prayers.
Blessings, Marguerite

cheshire wife said...

Admittedly the fox does not look 100%, but he cannot be so bad as he managed to jump over the fence!

I often think about you these days and hope that you are coping.

CWx

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

He's so beautiful, Maggie. Prayers coming your way~