Meet Gibbons and his two adorable sidekicks, Grainne and Minnie – two foxes who embarked on an extraordinary journey of companionship with their human caregiver. Their story begins with an unfortunate start as they were abandoned as pups, left to fend for themselves in the wild.

However, fate had different plans for these young foxes. Patsy Gibbons, a kind-hearted soul and an ardent animal lover, stepped in to offer them a lifeline. He nurtured them back to health, providing the care and compassion they needed during their vulnerable early days.

What makes this story even more remarkable is that, despite being nursed back to health and given the opportunity to return to their natural habitat, Grainne and Minnie made an unexpected choice – they decided to stay with Gibbons, forging an unbreakable bond that defies conventional notions of wild animals.

Gibbons shared his perspective on how this extraordinary companionship unfolded: “I never set out to have pet foxes. It just happened. I ended up looking after Gráinne since she was only seven-weeks-old. My brother-in-law found her in a box looking for heat in a storeroom close to Columba’s Hospital in Thomastown. My brother-in-law said we should try to do something as she was so thin. I took her to the local vet, and so I just continued on caring for her and haven’t stopped.”

With a menagerie of three foxes, 28 hens, 12 ducks, two dogs, and two cats under his care, Gibbons knows firsthand that caring for his unique family is no small feat. It’s a testament to his unwavering commitment to providing a loving home to these animals that he won’t soon forget.

While the story of Grainne and Minnie may not provide a definitive answer to whether foxes make suitable pets, it certainly showcases the extraordinary connections that can develop between humans and the wild creatures we share our world with. In the end, it’s a reminder that kindness, compassion, and unexpected friendships can bloom in the most unlikely of places.