I thought you liked bunnies?
Squeak, squeak, wink, wink, nudge nudge.
Posted on 02/22/2005 8:43:05 AM PST by balrog666
Forget hounds - foxes could become man's newest best friend, as scientists have shown they can be tamed.
After 45 years of breeding, tame foxes that wag their tails, greet humans with excited barks and look cute have been born in Siberia.
The original foxes were all black, but the new critters have white patches, big floppy ears, and curly tails.
The new foxes are also more curious, better at understanding humans, and less frightened of new things.
The scientists bred about 45,000 foxes to get to the tame stage.
When breeding the animals, they only chose them on how well they responded to people.
But the physical changes came as well - making scientists think cuteness comes along with being tame.
Oh my gosh, our friends have one of those things. Poor, poor people. It's a cute dog, but it makes the worst poodle look laid-back. Yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap-yap, and that's the warmup. Those poor people.
And the seller assured her they were a "quiet" breed.
Dan
Heck, my cat will try to eat me while I'm petting her.
I thought you liked bunnies?
I agree completely.
Uh, wait... It says, "breed cute tame foxes"? Well, when I was your age, I used to...
Uh, wait...
Oh.
Never mind. I really should be working.
Ours talks a lot, but quietly. She gets excited when someone comes over, but quiets down after about two or three minutes. Maybe just training.
Unfortunately, species has become a loose term. It could mean the difference between a dog and a bird, or a dog and a wolf, that both have the same number of chromosomes and can breed.
How fundamentalist of you to duck the question.
Sorry, but I have been dealing with environmental issues for the last 25 years, and have completely lost respect for the term, and for most biologist for the matter of fact. Biology used to be an honest profession, now it is just a political, power hungry funding racket.
That's a Russian Fox isn't it?
Have you ever read Murray Leinster's Exploration Team" ? Just curious. :-) PS So would I!
I'm not so sure. Guinea pigs are cute, but they don't seem to be tame (at least the ones I've seen). Squirrels are cute, but will only approach for the food. There are plenty of examples of cute animals that are not at all tame.
DAMN! I was just about to search for a picture of the Festrunk brothers.
Why yes, I've -- oh, ... I just read the rest of your question. The answer is no.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GIVING YOUR CAT A PILL:
1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for count of 10.
5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between between knees, holding front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat’s head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.
7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for glueing later.
8) Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with its head just visible from below spouse’s armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat’s mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9) Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10) Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12) Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13) Tie cat’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Force cat’s mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour ½ pint of water down throat to wash pill down .
14) Get spouse to drive you to emergency room; sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15) Arrange for vet to make a housecall.
Aren't pheromones grand? Just another litle perk courtesy of Natural Selection.
The foxes around here are cuter and quite tame, and there are no scientists breeding them.
TCO alert. But I'm saving my money for a pygmy elephant.
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