A dog owner was horrified after witnessing a fox attempting to attack her Chihuahua. In a garden in London. Blue, a one-year-old chihuahua who weighs just under four pounds, had ventured into the garden to do his business at around 10 pm on Tuesday, January 24. His owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, heard a commotion outside. After running out, his terrified owner saw a fox attempting to attack her small dog as he desperately tried to fend off the creature.
The incident occurred at home in Fulham. Southwest London, where foxes prowl the area looking for food.
The owner told Express.co.uk: "I had let Blue out to go to the toilet as I usually would before bed, and I heard him barking. He usually barks when he hears someone outside. Or if there's a bird or animal, he's generally reticent at night.
"I started to put my shoes on when I realized his barks had changed. And he was barking while also growling and whimpering.
"I rushed outside, and it was pitch black, so it was difficult to see. But I saw a huge fox attempting to grab him while he was attempting to fight it back. It was the most frightening moment of my life. And I had no idea what to do and had never heard a commotion like it."
What happened when the owner went out?
Thankfully, the fox quickly fled after the owner came outside. But Blue had been traumatized by the incident.
She continued: "I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't gone outside at that moment. It was dark, so it was difficult to see him because he had gone under a tree which I think is where the fox had been resting when he was disturbed by Blue going into the garden.
"I quickly called his name, and the fox appeared scared by my presence. So I tried to escape but couldn't jump the garden fence. The fence was shaking as it attempted to jump over, and I quickly ran inside with Blue.
"He wasn't physically hurt. But he was shaking and now won't go in the garden alone. It's rare for foxes to attack dogs, but his size makes him a target. I heard a noise the night before coming from the garden, which now. This incident makes me think the fox regularly comes to our back garden and hides under a tree, acting as a den."
Chihuahuas must be supervised outside
The Humane Society warned that "tiny dogs" could be at harm from a "plethora of predators, including foxes, so they should be monitored when outside."
But they said "most dogs" are not at risk from a fox attack unless they "threaten their young."
The London Wildlife Trust estimates that there are 10,000 foxes in the capital. And this is not the first case of a small dog being attacked by a fox. A personal trainer told how she fought off a fox for a second time in her garden after it attacked her pet chihuahua.
Marie Wilson, from Islington. She told what happened in her horror after finding her beloved pet dog Finley locked in the fox's jaws in 2017.
Does the fox let the dog go?
She rushed to the aid of her 11-year-old pet and said she "physically beat the fox up with her bare hands" until it let go of the dog.
Ms. Wilson, 43, told the Standard: "I had to physically beat the fox up with my bare hands to let go of my Chihuahua from his jaws. Finley screamed. And that's when I dragged the fox away from Finley's neck and pushed it against the wall.
"I cut my leg during the process then all three of us ran inside. Neighbors saw and heard it all, and we're shocked it had happened again to me."
An IsAt the time, Anton Council spokesman said, "understand how upsetting attacks on pets by foxes could be and sympathize with Ms. Wilson. We hope her dog makes a full recovery. Unfortunately, under existing controls, the council has no remit to regulate local fox populations. We'd suggest Ms. Wilson contacts the Fox Project, which provides helpful, practical advice on deterring the animals."
