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Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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This story starts off sad, but it ends just like the inspiring holiday story we all need right now. A while back, I became friends with Connor Jackson who filmed the documentary Klatki and uncovered the cruelty of fur farming in Poland, and I met with local Polish animal protectors. What I saw in that film still haunts me. But recently my Polish friends went back to a fur farm and met a young fox. And it is the heartwarming story of that little fox I want you to see.

More info: give.opencages.org

This autumn we found a little arctic fox on a regular Polish fur farm

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Locked in a dirty cage, he was alone and in pain, in the smells of excrement and rotting flesh

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

He was hungry and the small wire cage hurt his feet

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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He was just another baby fox, one of the dozens cramped in rusty cages

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

He was very scared of us

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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But when we rescued him, his life changed forever

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

He was in very poor health

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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So we gave him the medical treatment he needed

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

And we gave him a name: Maciek, a Polish name for a Polish fox

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Maciek recovered in a safe, roomy space with one of his rescuers

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

He slowly adjusted to his new life

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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He gets delicious and nutritious snacks — he enjoys pumpkin just like us!

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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Maciek has a favorite toy

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

And now he has a friend teaching him how to play!

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

The fox and the hound feel safe in each other’s company

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

This year Maciek celebrates his very first Christmas outside a fur farm, he could not be happier!

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

But this is not a Christmas miracle. This happened because caring people worked hard to investigate farms and because animal friends like you support that work

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Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Now we are close to banning fur!

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Millions of nameless individuals like Maciek are still living and dying in barbaric conditions

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

Fox Saved From A Fur Farm Celebrates Its First Christmas Out Of Tiny Cage

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You can donate here to help save more foxes!

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Stien van der Ploeg

Stien van der Ploeg works for Anima International to help build a kinder planet that is hospitable for all. She likes her food hot, spicy and plant-based, with cake for dessert.

Stien van der Ploeg works for Anima International to help build a kinder planet that is hospitable for all. She likes her food hot, spicy and plant-based, with cake for dessert.

Vėjūnė Rimašiūtė

Vėjūnė is a community manager who helps artists all over the world introduce their artwork to Bored Panda readers and in that way, become more popular. Since she was always fascinated by the art world, she studied Culture Management and Cultural Policy at Vilnius Academy of Arts where she expanded her knowledge about it. Now she's using all this knowledge to showcase its beauty and help others dive into the fascinating world of art.

Vėjūnė is a community manager who helps artists all over the world introduce their artwork to Bored Panda readers and in that way, become more popular. Since she was always fascinated by the art world, she studied Culture Management and Cultural Policy at Vilnius Academy of Arts where she expanded her knowledge about it. Now she's using all this knowledge to showcase its beauty and help others dive into the fascinating world of art.

What do you think ?

hobbitly 4 years ago (edited)

They are not only living in barbaric conditions, they also have a barbaric death. I dont want to go into graphic details, cause I dont want to scare people, but please stop wearing fur. And dont forget that it isnt just the "typical fur coat only wealthy lady's" wear, but also the trim of your hoodie on your jacket, or the inside of your coat/boots, or a small piece on your gloves for that "Anastacia feel". Even cheap fur that is marketed as fake is often real fur coming from Chinese fur farm. It is lovely to see this little fluffy fox being rescued, but hundred-thousands are not. We can not control other peoples actions, but we can choose to not contribute to this our selfs, so please stop wearing fur. Thank you.

85points

Chu Yue Ling 4 years ago

Exactly. Well said. 👏🏻

16points

Load More Replies...

anotherboredpanda 4 years ago

So how can I discover if the "fake" fur trim of my jacket really is fake? I wouldn't want to support their cruelty.

5points

Alessandra Ricotta 4 years ago

In fact we have a lot of substitutes for fur that warm us even better, no need to hurt those animals. Maybe in a survival condition it's acceptable, but not in a normal environment. Plus, in the past, we used to eat the animal killed for fur, and now I guess we just throw the corpse in the garbage, and it's a horrendous waste for a precious life.

3points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Please do scare people, because they are not listening, these atrocities continue because "people" just don't care, don't want to be bothered. Only consumers can stop this suffering of innocent creatures. Thank you, hobbitly for your compassion.

1point

Dave P 4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Saulė Milaševičiūtė 4 years ago

Maciek is so cuuute! <3 Foxes are no less social and playful than dogs. How could anyone want to kill them just to wear their fur?

19points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Dave P is not cute at all and we don't need to research him. Why would you need to wear fur????? Every little life is big to the one living it.

1point

Load More Replies...

Gabrielė Vaitkevičiūtė 4 years ago

Such a wonderful story! The change in how he looks before and after is incredible. Just shows what a little care and love can do <3

18points

Karen Johnston 4 years ago

I pray for the time when all fur is banned. How ridiculous in a time where warm clothing is produced without killing animals. Barbaric is just one term I would use for people like this.

12points

Chu Yue Ling 4 years ago

Unfortunately so long as people buy it, it will exist. And as someone else said above, cheaply obtained dog fur is now in so many things like faux fur trims of mass produced jackets. The way they are kept and then die is too awful to write here. 😪

6points

Load More Replies...

Katinka Min 4 years ago

I will never understand how fur has made such a disgusting comeback. i see it all the time on parkas, shoes - everywhere! Man, if I think about how much we protested in teh 80s against this s**t. And it was more or less gone in Norther Europe. Until it came back.

8points

Magpie 4 years ago

Yes I also protested, and thought that we had won. So infuriating that this is even a thing now.

1point

Load More Replies...

Don Flynn 4 years ago

Fur is murder no matter what anyone says

6points

Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago

Meat, too

3points

Load More Replies...

Night Owl 4 years ago

Beautiful fox. I'm glad he was saved, and I hope the people that kept him and others in cages were punished and ended in cages themselves 😠

4points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Night Owl, unfortunately, there are many animals like Maciek who did not get rescued, suffer immensely and die in agony; and NO those sub-human monsters responsible for these unconscionable atrocities were not punished, only consumers who either still don't know, or don't want to know, or don't care can save these innocent creatures by not buying fur or any product with fur accessories. Every each of us has the power to harm, destroy or heal, save the life of sentient beings, thus our own.

0points

Load More Replies...

Meeow 4 years ago

These are the poor animals fur that on your shoulder, if you have one you should be ashamed of yourself, you ain't no different that actually killing them.

2points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

You are absolutely right, Meeow. "One doesn't have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient." - Charles M. Blow

-1point

Load More Replies...

Maria Rohlen 4 years ago

Fur is worn by ugly people and beautiful animals.

2points

Magpie 4 years ago

If you also loved / hated this article PLEASE find your local-ish society for prevention of cruelty to animals and donate some $$ or time.

2points

Vincent Jay 4 years ago

That little fox seems almost tame. Is that the normal nature of a fox?

2points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

No that's not normal for fox.......to be imprisoned in a bare, filthy cage, terrified, waiting for cruel death.

0points

Load More Replies...

Whiterain25 furry 4 years ago

proud vegan

2points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Thank you Whiterain25furry, you have a lot to be proud of, and I don't care how much it infuriates "good" people.

0points

Load More Replies...

Andrzej Skowron 4 years ago

Maciek czeka na prezenty:)

2points

LuckyLuke29 4 years ago

A fox and a hound friends?, How cute!

1point

Sadie Jayne 4 years ago

Well... that was a half a box of tissues....I really try to resist hating anyone, but people who wantingly do things like this to any animal are right next to the people who do similar things to people for profit... They are both VERY high on my "I really do HATE you" list.

1point

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Exactly so, Sadie: "Do not fancy that you will lower yourselves by sympathy with lower creatures; you cannot sympathize RIGHTLY with the higher, unless you do with those." - John Ruskin, English essayist, critic, reformer (1819 - 1900)

0points

Load More Replies...

sharron lynn parsons 4 years ago

Excellent post, sad, and happy, I had no idea that fur farms continue to operate, I thought they were banned everywhere, thank you for the rescue, as well as the continuous dedication, please keep us posted of success !!!

1point

Donna Reynolds 4 years ago

Oh boy! A flag! A Santa! A present! I’m a good boy.

1point

Tom Hardeveld 4 years ago

he's so cute that I DON'T want one. They need to live in nature, not in cages, not in our homes, the need to be beautiful in freedom. But the people who saved him are heroes

1point

Jovy Jergens 4 years ago

This is a wonderful story and it breaks my heart to think of the animals who are not lucky enough to be saved!

1point

natasha P. 4 years ago

Fur is so horrific!

1point

Candice Ravel 4 years ago

There is absolutely zero reason for fur farms to exist in 2019. Knowing how these poor animals are mistreated before being electrocuted, bludgeoned or drowned and still buying fur anything makes those who do so monsters. One cannot plead ignorance any longer as a reason to wear and/or buy fur.

1point

Nina Hill 4 years ago

His legs are deformed from not being able to stand in that cage. That is heartless.

1point

Olivia Cole 4 years ago

Love it!!!!!!!

1point

CincyReds 4 years ago

He looks so happy....I can't bear to think of the other foxes that were left behind. Fur just needs to be banned all together

1point

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

I love you Stien for all you do for animals, our planet and consequently for humanity. You are an extraordinary human being.

0points

okpkpkp 4 years ago

Very nice for Mr. Fox. Or Mrs...

0points

Pretty Pangolin 4 years ago

His little front feet seem really splayed out - is that normal anatomy or a result of having lived in a wire-floored cage?

0points

WaitingtokissGregDavis 4 years ago

BAN FUR. All fur. Unless you can catch it yourself I the wild. People to choose to wear fur are total c***s.

-1point

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Waitingtokiss, ....."unless you can catch yourself in the wild"???? That "it" in the wild want to live as much as you and I.

0points

Load More Replies...

Tamsin Burke 4 years ago

wearing a fur coat is still fashionable in some countries

-3points

Frankenfrog 4 years ago

People who buys and wears due deserves to be raped with a medieval morning star

-3points

FreakOfArt 4 years ago

That's... A little harsh?

2points

Load More Replies...

jknbt jknbt 4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Frankenfrog 4 years ago

They are not pets!

0points

Load More Replies...

hobbitly 4 years ago (edited)

They are not only living in barbaric conditions, they also have a barbaric death. I dont want to go into graphic details, cause I dont want to scare people, but please stop wearing fur. And dont forget that it isnt just the "typical fur coat only wealthy lady's" wear, but also the trim of your hoodie on your jacket, or the inside of your coat/boots, or a small piece on your gloves for that "Anastacia feel". Even cheap fur that is marketed as fake is often real fur coming from Chinese fur farm. It is lovely to see this little fluffy fox being rescued, but hundred-thousands are not. We can not control other peoples actions, but we can choose to not contribute to this our selfs, so please stop wearing fur. Thank you.

85points

Chu Yue Ling 4 years ago

Exactly. Well said. 👏🏻

16points

Load More Replies...

anotherboredpanda 4 years ago

So how can I discover if the "fake" fur trim of my jacket really is fake? I wouldn't want to support their cruelty.

5points

Alessandra Ricotta 4 years ago

In fact we have a lot of substitutes for fur that warm us even better, no need to hurt those animals. Maybe in a survival condition it's acceptable, but not in a normal environment. Plus, in the past, we used to eat the animal killed for fur, and now I guess we just throw the corpse in the garbage, and it's a horrendous waste for a precious life.

3points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Please do scare people, because they are not listening, these atrocities continue because "people" just don't care, don't want to be bothered. Only consumers can stop this suffering of innocent creatures. Thank you, hobbitly for your compassion.

1point

Dave P 4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Saulė Milaševičiūtė 4 years ago

Maciek is so cuuute! <3 Foxes are no less social and playful than dogs. How could anyone want to kill them just to wear their fur?

19points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Dave P is not cute at all and we don't need to research him. Why would you need to wear fur????? Every little life is big to the one living it.

1point

Load More Replies...

Gabrielė Vaitkevičiūtė 4 years ago

Such a wonderful story! The change in how he looks before and after is incredible. Just shows what a little care and love can do <3

18points

Karen Johnston 4 years ago

I pray for the time when all fur is banned. How ridiculous in a time where warm clothing is produced without killing animals. Barbaric is just one term I would use for people like this.

12points

Chu Yue Ling 4 years ago

Unfortunately so long as people buy it, it will exist. And as someone else said above, cheaply obtained dog fur is now in so many things like faux fur trims of mass produced jackets. The way they are kept and then die is too awful to write here. 😪

6points

Load More Replies...

Katinka Min 4 years ago

I will never understand how fur has made such a disgusting comeback. i see it all the time on parkas, shoes - everywhere! Man, if I think about how much we protested in teh 80s against this s**t. And it was more or less gone in Norther Europe. Until it came back.

8points

Magpie 4 years ago

Yes I also protested, and thought that we had won. So infuriating that this is even a thing now.

1point

Load More Replies...

Don Flynn 4 years ago

Fur is murder no matter what anyone says

6points

Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago

Meat, too

3points

Load More Replies...

Night Owl 4 years ago

Beautiful fox. I'm glad he was saved, and I hope the people that kept him and others in cages were punished and ended in cages themselves 😠

4points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Night Owl, unfortunately, there are many animals like Maciek who did not get rescued, suffer immensely and die in agony; and NO those sub-human monsters responsible for these unconscionable atrocities were not punished, only consumers who either still don't know, or don't want to know, or don't care can save these innocent creatures by not buying fur or any product with fur accessories. Every each of us has the power to harm, destroy or heal, save the life of sentient beings, thus our own.

0points

Load More Replies...

Meeow 4 years ago

These are the poor animals fur that on your shoulder, if you have one you should be ashamed of yourself, you ain't no different that actually killing them.

2points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

You are absolutely right, Meeow. "One doesn't have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient." - Charles M. Blow

-1point

Load More Replies...

Maria Rohlen 4 years ago

Fur is worn by ugly people and beautiful animals.

2points

Magpie 4 years ago

If you also loved / hated this article PLEASE find your local-ish society for prevention of cruelty to animals and donate some $$ or time.

2points

Vincent Jay 4 years ago

That little fox seems almost tame. Is that the normal nature of a fox?

2points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

No that's not normal for fox.......to be imprisoned in a bare, filthy cage, terrified, waiting for cruel death.

0points

Load More Replies...

Whiterain25 furry 4 years ago

proud vegan

2points

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Thank you Whiterain25furry, you have a lot to be proud of, and I don't care how much it infuriates "good" people.

0points

Load More Replies...

Andrzej Skowron 4 years ago

Maciek czeka na prezenty:)

2points

LuckyLuke29 4 years ago

A fox and a hound friends?, How cute!

1point

Sadie Jayne 4 years ago

Well... that was a half a box of tissues....I really try to resist hating anyone, but people who wantingly do things like this to any animal are right next to the people who do similar things to people for profit... They are both VERY high on my "I really do HATE you" list.

1point

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Exactly so, Sadie: "Do not fancy that you will lower yourselves by sympathy with lower creatures; you cannot sympathize RIGHTLY with the higher, unless you do with those." - John Ruskin, English essayist, critic, reformer (1819 - 1900)

0points

Load More Replies...

sharron lynn parsons 4 years ago

Excellent post, sad, and happy, I had no idea that fur farms continue to operate, I thought they were banned everywhere, thank you for the rescue, as well as the continuous dedication, please keep us posted of success !!!

1point

Donna Reynolds 4 years ago

Oh boy! A flag! A Santa! A present! I’m a good boy.

1point

Tom Hardeveld 4 years ago

he's so cute that I DON'T want one. They need to live in nature, not in cages, not in our homes, the need to be beautiful in freedom. But the people who saved him are heroes

1point

Jovy Jergens 4 years ago

This is a wonderful story and it breaks my heart to think of the animals who are not lucky enough to be saved!

1point

natasha P. 4 years ago

Fur is so horrific!

1point

Candice Ravel 4 years ago

There is absolutely zero reason for fur farms to exist in 2019. Knowing how these poor animals are mistreated before being electrocuted, bludgeoned or drowned and still buying fur anything makes those who do so monsters. One cannot plead ignorance any longer as a reason to wear and/or buy fur.

1point

Nina Hill 4 years ago

His legs are deformed from not being able to stand in that cage. That is heartless.

1point

Olivia Cole 4 years ago

Love it!!!!!!!

1point

CincyReds 4 years ago

He looks so happy....I can't bear to think of the other foxes that were left behind. Fur just needs to be banned all together

1point

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

I love you Stien for all you do for animals, our planet and consequently for humanity. You are an extraordinary human being.

0points

okpkpkp 4 years ago

Very nice for Mr. Fox. Or Mrs...

0points

Pretty Pangolin 4 years ago

His little front feet seem really splayed out - is that normal anatomy or a result of having lived in a wire-floored cage?

0points

WaitingtokissGregDavis 4 years ago

BAN FUR. All fur. Unless you can catch it yourself I the wild. People to choose to wear fur are total c***s.

-1point

Christina Uhlir 4 years ago

Waitingtokiss, ....."unless you can catch yourself in the wild"???? That "it" in the wild want to live as much as you and I.

0points

Load More Replies...

Tamsin Burke 4 years ago

wearing a fur coat is still fashionable in some countries

-3points

Frankenfrog 4 years ago

People who buys and wears due deserves to be raped with a medieval morning star

-3points

FreakOfArt 4 years ago

That's... A little harsh?

2points

Load More Replies...

jknbt jknbt 4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Frankenfrog 4 years ago

They are not pets!

0points

Load More Replies...

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