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Fox on vandalism spree in a dog cafe caught red-handed

Alicia Ung Image of the fox peering around a doorway in the caféAlicia Ung
The cafe owner says when she found the fox it looked "frightened" and had cut itself

A fox has forced a west London dog cafe to close after it was caught red-handed during a vandalism spree.

Alicia Ung, who owns Pawsitive Café in Notting Hill, said when she arrived to work on Sunday she initially thought the premises had been broken into.

When she found the fox inside it was peering around a corner at her and looked "frightened".

Ms Ung said the fox caused "thousands of pounds of damage" and had ripped sofas and broken glass everywhere.

Images and video clips posted to social media show the fox had torn chunks of foam from an entire row of orange banquette seating and at least half a dozen chairs, as well as breaking crockery and glass and leaving tiny blood-stained pawprints over walls, floors and surfaces.

Alicia Ung Image showing dozens of chunks taken out of a row of orange banquette seatingAlicia Ung
"Pawsitive Cafe is my baby, and it saddened me deeply to see how it came down to this," Ms Ung said

The fox had even managed to break into food containers, leaving piles of kibbles strewn on the ground.

Ms Ung said the fox was humanely captured by the RSPCA, and a member of staff from the charity said the fox appeared to be fine, having only suffered a minor cut.

Alicia Ung Image showing three opened canisters of food which is strewn across the floorAlicia Ung
Ms Ung says customers have offered to pitch in with refurbishments and donations

Ms Ung, who opened the cafe in 2021, said it was her first business and she had been inspired by her love for "my best friend, Domino the Dalmatian".

Since the incident, hundreds of messages of support have come in, with customers even offering to pitch in with refurbishments or sending her cakes and offering money to help the cafe reopen, she explained.

Alicia Ung Image showing tiny red fox pawprints on seating and wallsAlicia Ung
The fox, which had cut itself, left tiny pawprints over the entire cafe

"I always believe that everything happens for a reason, and I'm choosing to view this incident as a blessing in disguise," Ms Ung added.

She said she was "incredibly grateful for all the love and support everyone has been sending", adding her team is "working hard to reopen".

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