In the U.S. and Europe, foxes are some of the cutest creatures in nature, and if you live in those places, you may smile at the sight of one scampering across the lawn in the wee hours, or slipping between the trees in the park.
However, in Australia, it's a slightly different story. There, the European red fox — the iconic bushy-tailed and black-booted critter celebrated for its slyness — is an invasive species and considered a pest. That might sound mean, but an unchecked animal can wreak havoc on an ecosystem.
Therefore, the government has encouraged property owners to kill any foxes they spy on their lands.
But there are people who would like to find a way to both preserve Australia's natural balance and avoid the slaughter of the foxes who are already there.
The Sydney Fox Sanctuary is working to both control the fox population in a humane way and educate people about the dangers of keeping, trading, and breeding foxes illegally.
So when a farmer discovered a baby fox (they're called kits) all by himself, he first thought of getting a gun from his neighbors. But luckily for the kit, the neighbors weren't home. So he called the Syndey Fox Sanctuary instead.
And it would be there that the lost, most likely orphaned kit would make friends with someone else who knew how it was to be alone and unwanted in the world. Unlike the kit saved from a fur farm who befriended another rescued fox, this one wasn't another fox.
[H/T: Wide Open Pets]
Willa the fox kit was all alone and possibly orphaned when a farmer spotted him, and considered shooting him.
That's because foxes are an invasive species in Australia, and the government encourages farmers to kill them on sight.
Luckily, there was no gun available at the time, and so Willa was brought to the Sydney Fox Sanctuary that works to control the fox population humanely.
While it's true that foxes damage the natural habitat, there are many who believe that killing them wholesale isn't the answer.
Instead, they'd like to see foxes like Willa live out their lives in sanctuaries. That way, the natural habitat and the foxes will be kept safe.
After a check-up and a tick removal, Willa was moved to Sugarshine Sanctuary, which provides a peaceful home for foxes, as well as for dogs and farm animals.
There, Willa met another fox kit named Athena, but sadly Athena was killed by a python shortly after, which meant Willa was all alone again.
But not for long.
Willa soon met Isabel, also known as Izzy, a retired racing greyhound who now lives at Sugarshine.
Isabel is also a rescue and faced possible death. When she was no longer considered "valuable" as a racing dog, her previous owner was going to have her put down.
Luckily for Izzy, someone intervened, and she started a new life at Sugarshine.
Willa and Izzy hit it off right away, and soon they were spending all their time together.
Izzy is patient and is more than happy to let little, rambunctious Willa expend energy.
"She'll let Willa all over her, steal her food, and snuggle against her tummy," says Sugarshine co-founder Kelly Nelder.
The two now spend all their time together, and have found a little peace in a world that's not always very nice to the unwanted.
One of Willa's favorite new toys? Izzy's tail!
In addition to Willa, there are also three other foxes at Sugarshine named Toffee, Custard, and Blossom.
While Willa's been settling in with Izzy, Australia passed a law banning the keeping of foxes as pets. The illegal pet trade fueled the influx of foxes to the country, and they hope that making pet foxes illegal will drive the population down.
Foxes like Willa, who were already registered as pets before the law, will be unaffected.
Nelder, though, is still opposed to the killing of wild foxes. "Yes, wild foxes can be deadly to wildlife, but if kept in enclosures and well cared for, they are no longer a threat but are beautiful funny animals with loads of personality," she says.
The fate of the rest of the wild foxes in Australia may be undecided, but Willa's future is secure. He'll spend his life playing and cuddling with his best friend and the humans who care for them, and maybe he'll remind people that although someone might look different, they might just turn out to be your best friend.
You can learn more about Sugarshine on their website and see the other sweet animals they care for on Facebook and Instagram.
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