Legal fight for rare raccoon dog taken from Fleetwood by RSPCA

Nathan Wells’ raccoon dog Luna was taken by the charity on November 4, just a few days after she was returned to him after going missing from her Fleetwood home.

He said: “I have not heard anything about where she is or what condition she is in. As far as I know, she could have been in a cage for two weeks.”

Three-year-old Luna was added to an EU list of invasive alien species of concern in February last year. It is illegal to breed or sell the animals, and pets must be kept secure at all times.

Previously, the RSPCA told The Gazette that Nathan broke these rules as Luna was able to escape her Radcliffe Road home.

They said that Nathan signed the dog over to an officer ‘willingly’, but he denies this. He said: “They must have a very different definition of that word than I do. If someone is crying as you take their dog away you can’t call that willing. I was in tears and my partner was in tears.

“I understand that they have got their job to do and they’re not there to make people happy. They’re there to help animals that need help. But my dog was in immaculate condition; she was a very well-loved little animal. She did not need to be taken from this house.”

Nathan, 28, has now employed a solicitor to communicate with the RSPCA on his behalf.

THE RSPCA SAID...

“Luna has done well in RSPCA care and has now been found a new home in a suitable licensed establishment where her specialist needs can be met.

“She is thriving and has a large enclosure. She will soon be introduced to other raccoon dogs which are also cared for at the specialist centre.

“Raccoon dogs are wild animals - rather than domesticated pets. They are native to the forests of eastern Siberia, northern China, North Vietnam, Korea, and Japan and have large home ranges and their needs simply cannot be met in a typical household. We strongly discourage people from keeping raccoon dogs as pets.

“There are also strict legal restrictions on keeping, selling, rehoming and breeding raccoon dogs, due to the risk they pose to native wildlife. They can no longer be legally bred or sold and they must be kept securely at all times.

“The RSPCA made an arrangement to visit the owner of Luna to which he agreed and he also willingly signed her over into our care. Despite reports to the contrary there was absolutely no intention of putting Luna to sleep.”