What Are My Options?

What Are My Options?

When captive wolves or wolf-dogs become a problem for their owners, the options are few and far between. In most situations, the animal and owners have reached a point of no return and decide that the animal must go. If the animal exhibits dog-like tendencies, it may be possible to find a new home. If the animal exhibits shy wolf-like tendencies it will not easily bond to new owners, and tragically, may be best to destroy the animal if the original owners cannot keep it.

Roughly 1-in-10 wolf-dogs are able to exist, and even sometimes thrive, in the human world. Likely, these are animals that are either not very wolfy, or belong to a responsible human who unselfishly puts their animal’s needs foremost in their daily lives. Large enclosures, pack-mates, and as little stress from the outside world as possible (i.e. traffic, other pets, energetic and rambunctious kids) — all contribute to the happiness of the animal. Keep in mind the other 9-in-10 animals who are not so lucky and often end up meeting a premature death. For those of you who have already discovered the difficulty of caring for a wolf or wolf-dog in your home, below are some options that you are left with, including both the possible and the irresponsible.

Finding a New Home

Finding the animal a new home is usually the first idea that comes to an owner’s mind. Although it may be the easiest option for you, it could cost the animal its life and cause great heartbreak and pain for all involved. If your wolf-dog is outgoing and not afraid of people, it might not be too difficult to find them a new home. In this case, be completely honest with the people who take in your animal. Make sure that these kind people have the proper facilities, time, attitude, and commitment to make the situation work for the animal. Change is very difficult for any wolf-dog, so please try to minimize the number of moves and new owners they have to adjust to. Even very outgoing wolf-dogs can become extremely shy and nervous in new surroundings with new owners. A wolf-dog is a pack animal, and gets much of its confidence from you, its pack leader. The animal’s personality may completely change when put in a new situation. Keep in contact with the people who have taken in your animal to make sure that everything actually works out.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of wolf-dogs are shy or scared of people. This makes the prospect of finding them a new home much less likely. Due to the wolf’s intricate social structure, some wolf-dogs can be next to impossible to introduce into a different home. Most wolf-dogs will never accept a new human pack. Similar problems occur when trying to introduce a mature wolf into an already established pack, either resulting in an injured handler or injured (and sometimes even dead) wolves. When traded off to another owner, wolf-dogs (and dogs as well) will generally try to return “home.” The animal’s drive to escape is unnerving as it chews, digs, jumps, and paces incessantly. The usual results are the wolf-dog: A) is returned to the owners, B) is euthanized, or C) escapes and is shot or run over within 48 hours. Not much of an option at all. The only truly viable answer is to take responsibility for the animal’s life yourself.

Setting Your Animal Free

Probably the most dangerous, irresponsible, and cruel thing that can happen to most wolves or wolf-dogs is being turned loose to fend for themselves. This usually happens when an owner cannot face the hard decision to euthanize or responsibly re-home the animal. For a wild animal, especially a top predator like a wolf, several components are necessary to simply survive. First, wild wolves must possess an unrelenting fear of humans. Captive wolves almost always associate humans with food, and when released to the wild, they seek out humans. The humans they usually find are fearful, and the wolf-dog’s life ends with a gunshot. Second, wild wolves spend the first years of their life learning and practicing critical hunting and other survival skills from their pack members.

Wolf-dogs without this pack education will be more likely to succumb to the harsh realities of the wild. They do not know how to hunt or fend for themselves. One quick, fatal kick to the head by an elk or deer is a merciful ending. Weeks can go by without a single successful search for food. Starvation is generally only a matter of time. The weaker the animal becomes, the bolder it becomes as it seeks food in any shape or form. Domestic livestock and pets can now become prey.

If the animal ends up on a ranch, it will likely get shot, allowing the livestock community to use this experience to negatively combat wild wolf recovery. If the animal eats a pet (like the neighbor’s cat), the whole neighborhood is affected as the media dramatizes the issue. When dogs do the same, it is generally of little concern. Lastly, there is also public danger. If the frightened, starved, and sick wolf-dog ends up in a conflict with a person or child that results in injury, the animal is immediately killed and a “Little Red Riding Hood” paranoia sweeps the area — all due to a single irresponsible owner.

Giving Your Wolf-dog to a Shelter, Sanctuary, or Refuge

While this may appear to be the most appealing option, giving your wolf-dog to one of these organizations can be very difficult. Consider that there are over 250,000 captive wolves and wolf-dogs looking for new homes in the U.S. each year. Dedicated and caring people across the country have transformed their lives and homes into wolf and wolf-dog refuges to help these poor animals.

However, many are working with the disadvantage of no funding or support. Some refuges simply cannot care for their animals as well as is necessary and preferred. Even with all of the refuges and sanctuaries in the U.S., there is only enough space for a few hundred wolves and wolf-dogs to be cared for. And of those few hundred spaces, only a very small handful are open to new animals. Remember, your odds are NOT good for finding a space for your wolf-dog. But if you can, their life may be much better than with another unsuspecting and unprepared family.

Here are some links to other refuges around the country:

Captive Wolf Facilities:

Ramah, NM – Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
Fort Collins, CO – WOLF
Tenino, WA – Wolf Haven
Ignacio, CO – Wolfwood
Divide, CO – Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center
Julian, CA – California Wolf Center
Ely, MN – International Wolf Center
Battle Ground, IN – Wolf Park
Rising Sun, IN – Red Wolf Sanctuary
South Salem, NY – Wolf Conservation Center
Frazier Park, CA – Lockwood Animal Rescue Center
Antequera, Spain – Lobo Park
Berkshire, England – UK Wolf Conservation Trust
Eureka, MO – Endangered Wolf Center

Wolf-Dog Rescues:

The Wolfdog Project

Another aspect to consider is the role of animal shelters. Community shelters and local Humane Societies work hard to save as many animals as possible. However, the vast majority of these organizations are legally required to immediately euthanize a wolf or wolf-dog. Regardless of the animal’s personality, most insurance companies and local law enforcement will insist upon euthanization for the public’s safety. Even if your wolf-dog does not look or act wolfy, its chances can be limited in a shelter.

Under the best of conditions, the most outgoing and friendly dog can become scared, shy, and aggressive in a kennel situation (lots of new people, changing routines, constant barking and noise, competition with other dogs for food and attention) and be put down. Imagine your wolf-dog in a situation like this. When their pack leader (you) leaves, a wolf-dog will most likely become nervous and shy on their own, compounding the effects of kenneling. A few wolf-dogs may be able to find their way through an animal shelter to a happy home, but is it worth taking the chance?

One last place to look for help is with your local breed rescue groups. Nearly all states have rescue groups dedicated to saving, fostering, and re-homing specific breeds of dogs. Most breed rescues will only work with pure-blood dogs, but some will consider helping an animal that looks like it is a mix. Try contacting German shepherd, malamute, husky, Belgian sheepdog, Belgian Malinois, or Tervuren rescue groups. All these breeds look and act very similar to wolves. Although chances are low that they can help you, it is worth a try.

The Only Real Choice: Making It Work for You

Without question, your wolf-dog friend will be much happier living with you, once bonded to you, than it will with any other person. With a lot of understanding and the utmost patience, most owners can successfully provide the home their animal needs. It may take some hard adjustments in terms of relationships, lifestyles, and locations, but all will be worth it if the “pack” remains intact. The only true answer to the question “What are my options?” is to take responsibility.

The most important factor is the amount of space your animal will need. Ultimately, this space can figure significantly into the animal’s overall health and happiness. Make sure your animal has a clean, secure enclosure that includes space for them to run around, shade from the sun, and a place for them to retreat from humans if they desire.

Another necessity is to get your animal a companion, if they do not already have one. It does not have to be another wolf-dog, just another canine, preferably around a similar size. Wolves have developed incredible social and communication systems that depend on constant contact and reinforcement of their position within the pack structure. Keeping them in the backyard at night, when the rest of its pack is indoors cuddled around the TV, is extremely frustrating and confusing for them. Another canine companion can help make this situation a little more tolerable.

Exercise is vital to both the physical and emotional wellbeing of your friend. If you have a large enough enclosure and a companion for your friend to play with, your animal will get the exercise they need. Walking wolf-dogs on leashes is not recommended, and should be limited to times away from home, such as when the family takes a vacation and knows better than to leave their wolf-dog at home. Unexpected encounters with other dogs and pets can result in dead or injured animals. Learning to steer wolf-dogs away from potential problems, rather than having to physically pull them away from something after they have already discovered it, is both easier to do and less stressful on the animal.

Free running your animal off the leash can cause many problems, even if it seems like a treat. Once they have learned the joy of free running, they will want to run all the time. This is very important to remember from the very first day you bring them home. Wolf-dogs that are taken out to a park, field, or open space and allowed to free run will be much harder to contain in a fenced enclosure as mature adults.

For more detailed information on what it takes to care for a wolf or wolf-dog in captivity, please see: Wolf and Wolf-Dog Care.

Learn as much as you can about wolves and wolf-dogs so that you can understand your animal better. This includes reading a lot of books on raising wolf-dogs and on wolf behavior. Always remember: A wolf-dog is part wild animal, and your ability to understand and accept that wild side might be the difference between providing a quality home and your wolf-dog being destroyed. Don’t just accept anything you read or hear from others at face value. Learn from other’s mistakes. Wolves are as different from one another as people are, and knowing as much as you can will help prepare you for the unexpected.

When You Can’t Make It Work

If you truly feel that none of this is possible, then you are faced with the final alternative — take the ultimate responsibility for the life you have sought out and have your pet euthanized. Euthanasia is, sadly, often the only responsible option that ends this tragic cycle. The only difference between euthanizing the animal at the outset of major problems and waiting until later is a lot of stress and suffering for the animal and your family.

If you are sure that you will not be able to make changes in either location or lifestyle, your only true alternative is euthanasia. The other so called “alternatives” are only alternatives to you, and not to your canine friend.

Many thanks to Annie White for her contributions to this page.