Meet Dougal, the four-month fox cub who thinks he’s one of the family dogs

Dougal the fox cub arrived at the door just weeks old in the arms of a stranger, hoping for a chance to live.

He was on his own in the world after his mother and siblings were killed leaving his chances of survival very poor.

Animal lover and “wrangler” Bozena Bienkowska, took him in and with syringe-size specially prepared milk, nursed him back to health.

© Andrew Cawley

A sheep and cattle farmer from East Renfrewshire, she said: “He was so tiny, too young to be parted from his mum, and he was lame, with a leg injury. We couldn’t turn him away but feared that he would never make it. I was willing to give him every chance knowing we were his only chance of survival.

“It took 24-hours-a-day care, feeding and caring for him until he eventually thrived and is now very much part of our family.”

‘He’s at a very playful age’

Today, at four-months-old, the fox cub sits adoringly at her feet in the kitchen of her farmhouse to join her many cats, dogs, sheep, cattle and horses.

“He thinks he’s a dog, but our dogs don’t agree. They are happy to play with him though. Foxes are clever and extremely fast animals and Dougal is at a very playful age.”

© Andrew Cawley

Abbey Vets, Paisley, gave him his vaccinations and pronounced him fit and healthy.

Dr Jemima Green gave him a clean bill of health last week.

“Foxes are notoriously difficult to keep as pets and require animal handlers as keepers,” say Abbey.

‘Foxes are wonderful animals’

As a wrangler for films and TV shows and commercials Bozena has worked on Outlander, Two Doors Down and other network TV hits and adverts.

“Foxes are wonderful animals, so fast and playful but really need to be with experienced animal handlers,” she adds.

“Dougal could never be released into the wild because all he has known is humans and our other domestic animals at home.

“He doesn’t have that natural fear of humans that other foxes who have survived in the wild have or need to survive.

“We previously reared an injured fox cub, Callie, who appeared on Outlander, and he lived until he was eight.”

© Andrew Cawley

They only usually survive up to three years in the wild, often being killed by traffic.

“If Dougal wants to do filming, then he will but only if he is comfortable with it. Certainly, only if he is happy with this,” she adds.

Her love of animals began when she adopted an injured magpie at 12.

“Jack’s wings had been damaged and clipped and he could not fend for himself but with a lot of care, he survived and used to perch on my shoulder as I walked down the street. My family were amused but happy to see Jack recover.

“The local butcher in our town would pass out titbits for him as we passed by. Since then, my love of animals has flourished, and I wouldn’t turn one away if it was in distress.

“I guess that’s why someone brought Dougal to the door on a cold February night.”

The family’s bond with animals has continued with daughter Morgan, in her fifth year of vet studies at Liverpool University.

“She would like to work as an equine vet, such is her love of horses.

“We often have vet students on placement here which allows them to pick up a lot of hands on experience with large and small animals…and of course Dougal. Our son Bertie, graduates in engineering shortly, another big day for us all.”

“My husband Michael, is happy to share our home with our many animals. Some people may call it a menagerie, but our animals are such a joy.”