Because I really, REALLY want to connect with my pet...

[Foxxphyre]

http://www.sibfox.com/foxes/

SO... FREAKIN... CUTE!

Incidentally, these foxes are featured in this months National Geographic... On the cover no less  :thumbs: !

[Roffo]

Now only if I can connect with my kitty cat DX

[zenia]

They are very cute... but $6000! O__O

[Foxxphyre]

And thats the only reason I don't have one  :P.  Most of the cost is the paperwork and shipping.  They're still classified as an 'exotic pet' and there is only one breeding population currently.  We'll see if the popularity booms after that National Geo article (it discusses domestication etc.) and if the company will allow outbreeding.  That will bring the price down.

[Brittany-shadowwolf]

Oh man. I want a fox. Ill get one, one day.
Right now I have two Chihuahuas. c:

~~shadowwolf

[Roxxy_Starrz]

Well I was wanting a Machbagral in the future but now that I have seen those kits, I want a fox instead!

[zenia]

I've always kind of wanted a red fox... but instead, I am getting a cat! Probably on Thursday or Friday! SPCA here I come!

[Brittany-shadowwolf]

I've always kind of wanted a red fox... but instead, I am getting a cat! Probably on Thursday or Friday! SPCA here I come!

Congrats on going to get a new kitty! Always good to adopt. There are alot of poor animals in need of a good home. c:

~~shadowwolf

[Renwaldo]

And thats the only reason I don't have one  :P.  Most of the cost is the paperwork and shipping.  They're still classified as an 'exotic pet' and there is only one breeding population currently.  We'll see if the popularity booms after that National Geo article (it discusses domestication etc.) and if the company will allow outbreeding.  That will bring the price down.

Not to piss on your parade, but it's illegal. I'm just saying this because I've already tried. :P

I wrote the environmental ministry several times, and spoke with reps from there and the CFIAA. As of April 2009, a lot of animals - including all forms of vulpus - were added to the 'banned' list because of that idiot who had the pet tiger that killed someone. The only way to get a pet fox in Canada these days is to obtain one illegally, or opt for zoo status and pay in the thousands for appropriate facilities. Even if you do get a license for zookeeping, there's no guarantee you'll get your exotic animals. The CFIAA can still refuse the shipment as they see fit, and you'll have a difficult time finding a breeder anywhere in Canada given that the exotic pet is likely illegal to keep outside of a zoo. Then of course there is the quarantine, vet references, vaccinations, inspections, etc.

Sorry, not trying to be an ass. I've already tried to get a fennec here and no dice. The Evironmental Ministry has heavy restrictions on keeping exotic animals, they simply don't want people having them as pets. Even zoos and sanctuaries are receiving scrutiny at the moment. I know many of them have had their stock seized and put down lately because of the new laws.  :(

[Foxxphyre]

Hence the cost... I'm not sure if fennec are domestic or not... but these ARE domesticated.  Part of the reason they're so expensive is the fact that the sale company greases the wheels with the authorities.  It would be interesting to see what they say.  Maybe I'll email them.

[FurryJackman]

If I were to do a documentary on domesticated Foxes, this would be another excellent starting point.

I've had the burning desire for owning a red fox for quite a while, but I know it's now never going to happen. (At least, if I continue to live here, it's never going to happen) But $6000 for one is too hefty... (as much as a Sony EX1 camcorder) What I'd do is find a place that breeds them that doesn't slap a huge price on it, find a fox cub that was rejected by it's mother, and care for it for the rest of it's life. Kind of like this person did: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=cs&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=www.vixey.cz&act=url ( The site is originally in Czech. This person's Flickr gallery also has pictures of his pet fox: http://www.flickr.com/photos/najlvin/ )

[Foxxphyre]

Well, I'm not sure if anyone else has successfully domesticated one... otherwise you're looking at feral or bred for fur and that comes with the same general risks as raising any other wild animal.  Again, we'll see what the future brings.

[EmoFox]

I've read about the russian silver fox before; they were originally bred for fur. They started breeding the tamer ones because they were easier to kill, then some one thought "Hey! I bet these guys would make good pets!" and BAM. Domestication.

One of the things that gets me about the whole exotic animal dispute, is whenever an "exotic" animal bites some one, it's because it's a wild animal and can't be tamed/trained/domesticated. But whenever a dog bites some one or something, it's because it's a bad dog, or had bad owners, or a combination of both. But how do these people think we got pet dogs and cats in the first place? Honestly.

On that note, I want a fox so bad. Me and jester thought about getting one when we first read the silver fox article, but we didn't come across the website. Now that we have it... It's time to repeal some exotic pet laws...

And again, Ren, the tiger wasn't a pet, they were like an exotic petting zoo or something. The guy also had a lemur. It was pretty awesome. Nor was it the guy's fault that the chick was stupid enough to wear a flowy summer dress in a cage with an adolescent tiger. My 4 year old cat still attacks the ankles of my pj pants. I can't imagine what she was thinking.

[Maoi Neko]

http://www.sibfox.com/foxes/

SO... FREAKIN... CUTE!

Incidentally, these foxes are featured in this months National Geographic... On the cover no less  :thumbs: !

Wow! They finally started selling them. That siberian breeding program has been going on for about 50yrs now. I saw them on a documentary about dogs.

[Renwaldo]

I've read about the russian silver fox before; they were originally bred for fur. They started breeding the tamer ones because they were easier to kill, then some one thought "Hey! I bet these guys would make good pets!" and BAM. Domestication.

One of the things that gets me about the whole exotic animal dispute, is whenever an "exotic" animal bites some one, it's because it's a wild animal and can't be tamed/trained/domesticated. But whenever a dog bites some one or something, it's because it's a bad dog, or had bad owners, or a combination of both. But how do these people think we got pet dogs and cats in the first place? Honestly.

On that note, I want a fox so bad. Me and jester thought about getting one when we first read the silver fox article, but we didn't come across the website. Now that we have it... It's time to repeal some exotic pet laws...

And again, Ren, the tiger wasn't a pet, they were like an exotic petting zoo or something. The guy also had a lemur. It was pretty awesome. Nor was it the guy's fault that the chick was stupid enough to wear a flowy summer dress in a cage with an adolescent tiger. My 4 year old cat still attacks the ankles of my pj pants. I can't imagine what she was thinking.

The guy had the animal declawed so he could let it into his house and play with it every once and a while. What do you mean it wasn't his pet?! >_<

Furthermore his 'petting zoo' was missing several licenses and permits for the sort of zoological specimens he was keeping, and as I recall the tiger was missing any form of a birth certificate, so nobody knew where it came from, whether it was born wild or excess stock from a zoo. They couldn't prove that he smuggled it, but there was nothing to say that the animal was legally born and bred in Canada either. As for the licenses, he was keeping exotic animals since before many of them were required, and because of where he lived he somehow managed to slip under the environmental ministries radar for many years. Quite the scandal and embarrassing for them. That's one of the reasons he didn't receive heavier charges, somebody should have been keeping a closer watch on people like him but they weren't.

If his facilities were up to par, stupid chicks in flimsy dresses wouldn't be able to go get themselves mauled by tigers. As I recall he was keeping the animal in a small run made from chain-link fencing. You look at professional zookeepers, and they literally have concrete walls and trenches dug between guest viewing places and the animals.

It should also be noted that the tiger was overweight and unhealthy.

I don't think he was a bad person. I think he was simply ignorant.

On one hand I'm glad that there are new laws and restrictions in place so these awful events can be avoided, on the other hand it's unfortunate that the restrictions are so extreme as to outright ban all exotic animals for many potentially responsible owners. To be honest, the majority of people I've seen who've decided they want a pet tiger/bear/fox/wolf/anaconda/whatever aren't responsible, and don't have the slightest clue about zoology or caretaking, but there is a minority of people who are. It's a shame some of us may never have that opportunity. Taking care of such animals is extremely expensive and time consuming, but it isn't impossible, and it is extremely rewarding.  :)