Juniper the Fox and her BFF Moose the Dog
Think having dogs makes life interesting? Try adding a couple foxes into the mix!
Think having dogs makes life interesting? Try adding a couple foxes into the mix! For most of us, rescuing a dog is a life-changing decision. For Jessika Coker, that’s just the beginning. She took it to the next level—and then some—when the animal in need of a home was a red fox.
How, exactly, does one come to have a fox in the house? Little Juniper descended from foxes bred in captivity and had lost many of her natural instincts. Unable to be released in the wild, she ended up in Jessika’s care and that’s how their story began. Today, this sweet snaggletooth, nicknamed “The Happiest Fox,” has captured not only Jessika’s heart but also that of millions of social media followers. She even has her own book, Juniper: The Happiest Fox, and a range of adorable merch, including her own custom paw-painted art works.
Along with another fox, Fig, whose backstory is a lot sadder than Juniper’s (she was rescued near death from a fur farm), Juniper lives with her “Insta Boyfriend,” Australian Shepherd mix Moose, and nine other animals, including sugar gliders, baby squirrels, and cats.
In case you’re wondering, looking after all these animals can be a little overwhelming. Jessika telling us that just the foxes are equivalent to “having furry twin toddlers that never grow up” and that it is difficult to leave them unsupervised when they’re indoors. “Need to talk on the phone?” she shares, “Prepare for interruptions or the sound of destruction in the background.”
She nurtures their natural instincts (and gives herself a little alone time!) by making sure they have a safe outdoor space to spend some time in.
Though the foxes need to be kept strictly separate from the smaller animals—family love isn’t in the cards due to the foxes’ natural prey drive—Juniper and Moose have a special bond. Juniper and Fig grew up with Moose, and Jessika says that “Juniper especially loves Moose. I’ve never seen two animals love each other more.” Their mutual adoration is captured through the images Jessika posts to Juniper’s Instagram account with Juniper and Moose grinning up at the camera epitomizing interspecies best friend love and silliness.
Though not without its challenges, Jessika says her relationship with the foxes is extremely close. Despite sleepless nights and destruction of furniture, she “loves them more than anything.” Key to this is embracing Juniper’s “wild and unapologetic nature.” Her love for the foxes is truly unconditional: “I learned that loving something meant loving every aspect of it, the good and the bad.”
If Juniper’s cuteness has left you considering adding a fox to your family, Jessika advises thoroughly doing your research. Many foxes cannot return to the wild and do need a suitable home but she warns that they are not for everyone or any lifestyle. “They are not anything like keeping a dog or a cat,” she stresses. “Even the worst behaved dogs are typically more behaved than a fox.” Additionally, they are almost never able to be fully housebroken, they need a large outdoor enclosure to truly be happy, and a permit and access to an exotic animal vet are required. If you do decide to take on the commitment, however, she says that foxes are wonderful companions for those willing to put in the work.
To see more of Juniper and, of course, Moose, check out Jessika’s website and Instagram page, @juniperfoxx
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