Rescue service launches campaign and petition for permits
SYDNEY Fox Rescue is on a mission to reverse a State Government order that, in 2014, declared European red foxes to be pests.
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SYDNEY Fox Rescue is on a mission to reverse a State Government order that, in 2014, declared European red foxes to be pests.
The Schofields-based rescue service has been trying to negotiate with the State Government for permits to rescue and house foxes rescued after March 2015.
Under the Local Land Services (European Control Order) Pest Control Order 2014, the rescue and rehoming of red foxes is illegal.
It allows Local Land Services to issue eradication orders to private landholders.
People who kept foxes in captivity at the time of the order coming into force were eligible for permits to keep foxes but the order prevented the “keeping of a newly-acquired fox”.
Sydney Fox Rescue shelter manager Charlie Jackson-Martin said the control order meant rescuing and rehoming foxes was illegal, foxes in need were unable to legally access veterinary care, transporting foxes – even for veterinary attention ‒ was illegal, and injured or orphaned foxes were to be euthanised.
“For the past 18 months, since the pest control order was declared, Sydney Fox Rescue has worked long and hard to negotiate a viable permit system for our rescued foxes and the foxes we have rehomed, and continue our fight for these maligned animals,’’ Mr Jackson-Martin said.
“However, despite our best efforts in negotiations between our organisation and the Local Land Services, they have refused to issue permits for foxes rescued after March 2015, or to allow our continued work.
They fear our rescue group is ‘changing the culture of foxes in NSW’, and may pose a threat to the continued government use of 1080 bait.’’
Sydney Fox Rescue was founded in 2012, by Mr Jackson-Martin, who was living in Enmore at the time and running a cat rescue service.
“One family I knew found a fox and when I went about trying to find a fox rescue service to take it to, I found none existed,’’ he said.
“Through some vets I knew, I managed to find care for the fox and as word got around that I also rescued foxes, I soon turned my cat rescue into Sydney Fox Rescue.”
The group has launched a campaign with a petition and is urging supporters to contact Local Land Services offices to fight the pest control order.
“We know taking on Local Land Services, as well as the Minister for Primary Industries, is not going to be easy, and we need as much help as we can get,” Mr Jackson-Martin said.
The campaign website is at runningoutoftime.com.au or send an email to sydneyfoxrescue@
gmail.com
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