Forget dogs, now Britons are importing FOXES as pets: Fennec foxes from the Sahara entice people with their ‘cute’ ears and fluffy tails – but experts warn they make TERRIBLE pets and can even attack owners

Dogs may be man's best friend, but it looks like they're facing new competition from a new pet – the fennec fox.

The fennec fox, known for its large ears and fluffy tail, is technically legal to own in the UK, but experts warn the idea could be terrible.

Foxes are not domesticated, require large areas of sand, smell bad, and can even turn on their owners.

The world's smallest fox may be cute but most homes are simply not suited to keeping this desert dweller – originally from the Sahara – happy and healthy.

Lindsay McKenna, founder of Wild Side Exotic Rescue, told MailOnline: 'If you really love fennec foxes, please don't buy one.'

Fennec foxes hit the headlines today, after a pair arrived at All Things Wild in Worcestershire, after traveling 1,500 miles from the zoo in Hungary.

However, it is also legal to keep a fox as a pet – and owners do not need a special license to do so.

At her farm in Hertfordshire, Ms McKenna cares for around 35 animals rescued from the exotic pet trade.

She told MailOnline she bought two fennec foxes from an exotic pet seller in the UK in 2018.

However, Ms McKenna is strongly against keeping foxes as pets, and says she bought the pair to prevent them from being bred to supply the local market.

“I thought if someone got these animals, they would breed them because people think they can make a lot of money,” she explained.

“They should be in the wild and I don't think we have any right to make them 'pets' to play with.”

Fennec foxes are often marketed as gentle, trainable alternatives to dogs and cats.

However, Ms McKenna warns that it is extremely difficult to keep these animals happy and healthy in captivity.

Fennec foxes are native to the deserts of North Africa and require constant hot temperatures and an abundance of sand and dirt for digging (stock image)

Are fennec foxes endangered?

Fennec foxes are not currently considered to be in danger of extinction

It is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as a species of least concern.

This species is relatively widespread in the deserts of North Africa.

However, the development of new roads increases the risk of foxes being killed by vehicles as they show curiosity towards cars.

source: IUCN Red List

Fennec foxes are not considered endangered, but their trade is controlled to protect their wild populations

“Their needs can be very expensive and specific, and with the space they need, the average person is not equipped to handle that,” McKenna said.

“They come from Africa, so they are used to good temperatures and are adapted to life and sand and love to dig.”

Fennec foxes also require a tremendous amount of enrichment and social engagement.

In the wild, fennec foxes live in groups of up to 10 individuals, but are often sold individually in the pet trade.

“Foxes are often sold to people as if they are a solitary animal, when they should be in a pack,” Ms McKenna explains.

Even more worryingly, Ms McKenna explains that fennec foxes can be dangerous and turn on their owners if not handled properly.

“People buy them as if they were chihuahuas, but they will get very scared if you treat them like one,” she warned.

“Just as a dog can turn on its owner, the chances of a wild animal turning on it are much higher.”

Ms McKenna says she and her team always use special equipment and thick gloves when handling fennec foxes, and only do so when absolutely necessary.

Fennec foxes are currently listed under Article II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).

This means that they are not threatened with extinction, but trade must be controlled to avoid harming the natural population.

Alison Littlewood, chair of the Joint Commission on Nature Conservation, which advises the government on nature conservation, says international trade has remained largely unchanged over the past few years.

Ms. Littlewood said: “Sudan is the world’s leading exporter of this species, exporting 2,359 animals during this time period.

“China and the United States were the largest importers of fennec foxes from 2015 to 2023.”

Only a small number of permits have been issued to import fennec foxes in the past 10 years according to CITES data, however, foxes brought in from the EU did not need permits before Brexit.

The vast majority of pet fennec foxes are also bred in captivity rather than wild caught.

Richard Potter, owner of pet shop Jungle World, sold fennec foxes in the UK which he obtained from a supplier in the Netherlands.

However, Mr Potter told MailOnline: 'We haven't had it for about five years and it's very difficult to get it because of Brexit.'

Mr Potter also says fewer foxes are being bred, pushing costs up to £3,000 ($3,778) per animal.

Fennec foxes have a relatively small market in the UK due to the very high costs of keeping them warm and feeding them.

However, Mr Potter says he regularly receives messages inquiring whether the animals are available.

Mr Potter was facing 15 charges of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act in 2022. According to the Belfast Telegraph.

MailOnline has contacted Mr Potter to respond to the accusations.