Hi friends! Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” On July 17, we marked a powerful milestone at Pawsitive Beginnings: the five-year “Freedomversary” of two of our founding foxes, Jasper and Penny.
Their journey to sanctuary began in 2020 when they were transferred from a fur farm in Iowa to our facility in Key Largo. Like so many foxes trapped in the fur trade, Jasper and Penny had lived their entire lives confined to suspended wire cages. They never knew what it felt like to stand on solid ground or feel the sun on their backs without fear. Their existence had been one of isolation and exploitation. But on July 17, 2020, everything changed.
When they arrived in Florida, they touched the earth for the very first time. They didn’t know it then, but they were finally free. Free from cruelty. Free from confinement. Free to begin healing. Over the past five years, we’ve witnessed two incredible stories of transformation. Jasper, once emotionally shut down and physically worn from years of forced breeding, slowly emerged as the sanctuary’s quiet leader. He is calm, observant and dignified. He carries both the weight of his past and the pride of his survival with quiet strength. I like to refer to him as the “wise old wizard.”
Penny, on the other hand, embraced a softer path. Her spirit seemed tired but grateful when she arrived. With time, she has grown into a serene and gentle presence. She prefers the simple joys of sanctuary life: a shady spot to rest, a bit of enrichment to spark curiosity and absolutely no nonsense from the younger foxes. She’s drama-free and proud of it, a rare trait around here.
Together, Jasper and Penny embody everything that Pawsitive Beginnings stands for. They represent resilience, second chances and the belief that healing is possible after trauma.
Their presence also paved the way for those who came after them. In a sense, they have become mentors of survival, modeling what it means to trust again. (Though let’s be honest, they’ve also mastered the art of ignoring me when I’m being a bit much, a skill in itself.)
Here at the sanctuary, we often describe ourselves as a family. Not by blood, but by bond. Every fox under our care has escaped a dire fate, and each carries a unique story of survival. We are loud, we are spirited and we are all beautifully different. But we are united by the simple fact that we were given a second chance.
Anywho, that’s all for this week. Until next time, Reef, over and out!
