Anyone would react if they suddenly discovered five puppies in their own backyard — and that is exactly what happened to Craig McGettrick.
While clearing waste from a garden in England with a friend, Craig came across an old mattress that needed to be removed. But when they lifted it, they uncovered something they never could have imagined.
Beneath the mattress were five tiny puppies, lying silently together, fragile and helpless.
After finding the puppies, Craig immediately contacted a local animal shelter and shared photos on Facebook, hoping to help the animals find a new home as quickly as possible.
However, just hours later, a surprising truth emerged — one that changed everything.
It was a day like any other back in 2017. Craig was helping clean up the neighborhood when he made a discovery he never expected. Under the mattress, he found five small animals he believed were puppies or maybe kittens.
“Those were probably the only two options I knew of,” McGettrick told The Dodo, explaining that they assumed someone had dumped them before the rubbish was removed.
Craig decided to take the animals with him and contacted an animal shelter to care for the babies. Before handing them over, he posted photos of the adorable “pups” on Facebook, hoping someone would step forward to help.
The images were widely shared and eventually reached Martin Hemmington, founder of the National Fox Welfare Society.
As soon as he saw the photos, Martin picked up the phone — not to adopt the puppies, but to deliver an urgent message.
“We confirmed they certainly were fox cubs,” Hemmington later wrote. The animals had been taken by mistake to a rescue center in Liverpool as puppies — but they were actually five young fox cubs.
“Fox cubs don’t initially look like foxes,” explained Paul McDonald, a local rescuer known as The Fox Man, noting that the confusion happens far more often than people realize.
Martin contacted Paul, who checked on the cubs and found they were hungry — causing them to call out for their mother. Paul then carefully returned them to the exact spot where Craig had found them.
Not long after, a mother fox appeared. She had finally found her missing babies and reunited with them safely.
“Vixens leave their cubs all the time while they are in the den,” Paul explained, adding that young foxes gradually explore their surroundings as they grow older.
Thanks to Craig, Beccie, Martin, Paul, and everyone who shared the photos, the fox family was reunited — a powerful reminder of how awareness and compassion can protect wildlife.
This story highlights the growing need for wildlife awareness, especially as human activity increasingly overlaps with natural habitats. Well-meaning actions can unintentionally place wild animals at risk if their needs are misunderstood. Knowing when to seek professional wildlife guidance can make the difference between separation and survival — and ensure that nature’s most vulnerable families remain where they belong.
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