Foxie, the fox terrier injured after getting a rusty old tin wedged in her jaw, is back on the Gozo farm frolicking with her son and cows after receiving treatment at Ċentru San Franġisk in Ta’ Qali.

When Foxie saw she was back at the farm she went crazy... her son, Jake, came and they started shrieking like banshees

The terrier’s plight earlier this month highlighted the lack of an animal welfare organisation in Gozo and led to a confrontation between Gozo SPCA and the Animal Welfare Directorate.

However, the situation has been ironed out and the story has a happy ending.

“We had great difficulty getting her out of the van but when she saw she was back at the farm she went crazy. Foxie’s son, Jake, came and they started shrieking like banshees,” Gozo SPCA’s Betty Berry said.

“They tore through the cattle yards. The most magical part was when she went round all the cattle... and greeted everyone, jumping up to lick their noses. The cows were equally happy to see her.

“We were all in tears, even the farmer shed a tear. It was so moving to see. He said Foxie always guards the cows and sees them as her family and she gets very mad when they take any for sale, bless her,” Ms Berry said.

Foxie had been scavenging for leftovers when the tin got stuck between her jaws. Efforts to catch her were in vain as Foxie is semi-feral and very timid. The animal had to be tranquillised and that was whenthe directorate stepped in. Ms Berry said Foxie has been neutered, microchipped and now wears a collar carrying an ID tag and another one to protect her against sandfly bites.

“This is a great result following good collaboration, so many thanks to all concerned in caring for her, to enable her to return home, safe and well,” she said, thanking vet Trevor Zammit and the animal centre team.

Foxie’s journey back home will be featured in tomorrow’s programme Animal Diaries, presented by Moira Delia on Net TV at 6.50p.m.