South Yorkshire Times, January 16th 1970

‘Skin And Bone’ Vixen Had To Be Destroyed

A six-months-old vixen kept by a man who kept a diary of its day-to-day progress and who even dug a hole in his garden so that it could live as naturally as possible was described by R.S.P.C.A. Chief Insp. Norman Young as all skin and bone and emaciated, at Rotherham West Riding court on Friday.

Arnold Bedford (32) unemployed of Packman Road, West Melton, who pleaded “not guilty” to causing unnecessary suffering to a vixen by omitting to give it proper care and attention was fined £5, made to pay 3 gns. advocates fee and 3gns.veterinary fee

Chief Insp. J. W. Pawley said that the vixen was tied by a rope which had cut into his throat. The vixen was in such a bad condition that it had to be destroyed.  He said Bedford had two previous convictions for stealing livestock. Bedford said he had been devoted to animals all his life and had kept all kinds. He dug a hole in the ground for the vixen so that it could live as near as possible to its natural environment. He fed it three times a day and took it for a walk in the evening.

He said he kept a diary from the day he got it to record its habits.  All the books at his house were to do with nature.