Missing raccoon dog Luna seized by RSPCA days after returning home

Three-year-old Luna was taken from her Radcliffe Road home by an RSPCA officer on Wednesday, three days after she was found in an alley at the end of the street.

Her owner Nathan Wells, 28, said: "She made her way all the way to Poulton during the time she was missing. She then made her way back to Fleetwood. She made her way home.

"A police officer came over on Monday to check that everything was OK. Then she turned up again a few days later with the RSPCA, unannounced.

"They didn't show me any warrant to take the animal. The RSPCA officer came into my living room and said it was unsuitable, and said if I didn't sign the animal over she would come back with legal proceedings and I would go to prison. I felt like I didn't have any choice.

"I believe they have only taken Luna to put her down. They said they would rehome her or put her in a sanctuary, but I have no reason to believe that."

The RSPCA, however, said the charity had 'no intention' of euthanising Luna. They said: "She has been taken into our care where she is doing well and progress is already being made to find her a home in a more suitable licensed establishment where her specialist needs can be met.”

When Luna went missing on October 27, local police appealed for her safe return.

She was initially believed to be an Arctic fox, but exotic animal experts who saw her picture quickly identified her as a raccoon dog, a Japanese breed which last year was added to a List of Invasive Alien Species by the European Union.

It is currently illegal to breed or sell raccoon dogs in the UK, and pet raccoon dogs must be kept securely.

However, Mike Potts, head of exotic animal search and rescue charity BeastWatch UK, said the small canine was 'very much like any other domesticated dog' and did not pose a risk to anybody.

Nathan, an engineer, said: "I can provide Luna with anything she needs. I still believe she would be better off in my care because we are a family unit - me, my partner and my son - and she was a part of that. She was ripped away from her pack and she's now going to be sat alone in a tiny cage, cold and depressed.

"I'm absolutely mortified. I feel like I have been conned out of my pet. They've taken her away. It feels like taking away a son or daughter.

"Luna was missing for a week and she wanted to be home. The first night she was home she was in my bedroom cuddled up with me all night.

"To everyone that knows her, she is quiet and timid. Other than that, she's more than happy to cuddle up on the coach like a dog would. She defends my son like a brother."

THE RSPCA SAID:

“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.

“In this instance the raccoon dog called Luna was being kept inside a home and not being kept securely as she escaped from her home, breaching legislation.

“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."