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You Can Help Wolf-dog Refugees

August 27, 2008, 12:59PM MT

By Denise A LeBeau

Out of the Woods? Wolf-dogs begin rescue journey.

Out of the Woods? Wolf-dogs begin rescue journey.

The outcome for 17 wolf-dogs, chained in a backyard in Loon Lake, WA, looked pretty grim. Their owner had been evicted from the property where the animals were chained. A kindly neighbor was bringing them food, but their time on the property was limited. Although there is no official animal control in the county where they lived, the neighbor was afraid that someone would call the sheriff and the dogs would be taken and destroyed.

Kim Kahl, a Bend, OR member of the Wolfdog Rescue Resources group went to work on it and enlisted some Malamute Rescue friends up in Washington to assess the situation and take images. Her friends discovered about 13 adult dogs, 2 young adults and two young puppies. None of the animals had been spayed or neutered. One of the females looked like she could be pregnant. The oldest dog, said to be about 19, was blind. Kim decided that those three, Gabriel, the old blind guy and the two young puppies, needed to get out of the situation first. Kim networked with a Malamute/wolfdog rescue friend in southern Oregon and a number of other people and managed to get the three to safety at Alaskan Malamute Oregon Rescue (A.M.O.R.).

Time did run out for the dogs left chained on that property. The landlord showed up and told the owner of the dogs that she needed to move them right away because the property had been rented and the new renters were anxious to come in and get started cleaning up. There was no alternative but to take them next door, to the kindly neighbor who had been providing food for them. Her yard is smaller and the chained dogs are having their way with her lovely rose bushes, trees and even the siding on her house. Although almost seventy years old, she continues to care for them, but permanent placement is what these animals really need.

The Problem with Crying Wolf
One of the biggest problems with placing wolf-dogs is that they are so often mislabeled. If the owner or just about anyone else says a dog is a wolf-dog, that is what it becomes in the eyes of most animal control and law enforcement agencies. There are some breeders who will breed dogs of questionable genetics then sell the puppies as “wolf-dogs.” The puppies may have some wolf way back in their lineage; and then again, maybe not. Often these animals are shepherd mixes, husky mixes, malamute mixes or other Northern mixed-breeds with or without wolf content. This seems to be the case for the dogs of Loon Lake.

Another complication with placing these animals is both education and the law. Wolves and wolf-dogs appeal to some people. Some have them because it’s “cool.” Some people wish to live with “a piece of the wild,” and fulfill that desire by acquiring a wolf-dog. Some mistakenly believe that wolf-dogs make good guard dogs and get them for protection. Generally, they are much too shy to be good guard dogs. Most of these folks mean no harm. They lack basic understanding of the wolf and have no idea about what the mixed breeding contributes to the genetic and behavioral makeup of the animal. There are also some wolf-dog owners who know and understand wolves and wolf-dogs and are able to provide for a stable and nurturing environment.

To complicate matters even more, there are no uniform laws to guide the people interested in owning a wolf-dog.. There can be state laws, county laws, municipal laws, or no laws. In some of the states a declared wolf-dog is considered to be a dog. In some states the state law conflicts with the municipal law. Or there may be laws about how the containment area needs to be constructed. Some states/counties/municipalities require a person keeping a wolf-dog to have a special permit.

Rescue Continues!
Kim continues to work tirelessly to find homes for the dogs of Loon Lake. So far she has commitments for six of the animals. And she is working on getting commitments for two more. Two evaluators from Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) are going to evaluate them. That should give us much needed information about their adoptability and personalities. And once the evaluations are done, we can start making arrangements for spays and neuters. Best Friends has contributed a little over half of the money needed to complete the spays and neuters, which will be done at the Spokanimal Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic.

As you can see, many people from the community and beyond have rallied to help these poor animals, and they need all the help they can get! Please help these beleaguered pets get to safety!

How You Can Help!
• Transport help is needed to and from Spokanimal for the spays and neuters.
• Transport help is needed to get the dogs to their new homes.
• Homes are needed for the remaining animals.
• Donations can be made via Paypal to wolflady@earthlink.net, please indicate that the donation is for the Loon Lake rescue
• In-kind donations of food, crates, blankets, leashes, harnesses and other dog related items are always needed and appreciated.

If you can help in any way, please contact:
Kim Kahl
1033 NW Newport Ave
Bend, Oregon 97701
541-382-0065 home or 541-480-1662 cell
E-mail: wolflady@earthlink.net

by Jane Besmehn, Best Friends staff
lead image courtesy of Katy Flanagan, all other images courtesy of Karin Murkel
posted by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staff

Comments

Posted September 01, 2008, 2:20PM by Jude3

What a Joy it is to see the picture of Gabe at his new
forever home. He looks so happy and I know he brings great Joy to his new forever friend. Bless every one who has adopted these dogs altho I don't know you I love you for doing this.

Posted September 18, 2008, 3:54PM by jude3

janeb I am a little confused as when I talk to my sister who is the neighbor and caretaker of the dogs she tells me there are still six dogs that have not been placed even tho she has been complying with the request to spay and neuter and so far has paid from her own funds and not been reimbursed. It was my understanding the funds were available and dedicated for this purpose. I just seems something is falling through the cracks. Please help as time is runnung short. Thank You

Posted September 18, 2008, 7:32PM by bogiedew

I hope donations are going towards these dogs, because I made a donation just for the care of these dogs.

Posted September 17, 2008, 10:3PM by jude3

Can we have an update on how many of these dogs are still at Loon Lake that need homes. My concern is that winter is coming very fast and that they need shelter. Is there someone still working on this?

Posted October 28, 2008, 9:52PM by onehope

There are still two animals left to be adopted. Lightening and Nikita. Lightening is a special needs boy and is terribly afraid of all humans. Nikita is a beautiful little girl who will love the person that finds her. She, like all the others is fearful but willing to learn and love when she can trust.
Neighbor-Caretaker-Hope

Posted August 30, 2008, 8:46PM by Jude3

These dogs are the ones my sister and her husband Jamie have been careing for. Hope is retired but is limited because of illness. Altho Jamie has a fulltime job he still finds time to help care for the wolf dogs. I am so proud of both of you. Your dedication to these dogs is very special and they will meet you in the hereafter with love. Way to Go Jamie and Hope

Posted September 03, 2008, 10:58PM by onehope

I have known Gabriel for over a year when I began feeding this wonderful group of animals. To see what he was when I met him - fearful, trembling, starving and to look at his picture now, smiling, cleaned and brushed and sending out waves of happiness is worth every tiny effort we have made to help these guys. Under forum and down to Loon Lake Dog Needs Special Home is 'Lightening' a wonderful little boy who has been miserably treated all his life, who is looking for someone like ' Gabe' has found. Please find him. Thank you.
The Neighbor

Posted August 31, 2008, 10:20AM by termaccount4

I agree, hats off to both of them. They have gone way above and beyond any reasonable expectation!! Thank you so much, Hope and Jamie.

Another one to thank is Kim Kahl of Wolfdog Rescue Resources who has been coordinating the spay and neuter and the adoptions of these animals! She has done this from her place in Oregon where she cares for rescued animals besides doing this labor of love for the dogs and wolfdogs of Loon Lake. Thanks, Kim!

Posted August 31, 2008, 2:40PM by bogiedew

I hope all these beautiful dogs are able to find good homes. Please keep us updated.

Posted September 03, 2008, 1:56PM by Jude3

Altho many of the dogs have found good homes.
There is one in particular that is waiting. His name is Lightning and from his evaluation I feel that he has been severly abused. He is so shy that he would not even acknowledge the evaluators. This is truly a special needs dog and would be a chance for someone to know the Joy of helping this special boy. I know my prayers will be answered.
To view a picture of lightning and read his story put wolfdog in the search box and it is on the last page of the results.

Posted September 18, 2008, 1:49PM by termaccount4

jude3, there is still one that needs a home. That is Lightening. He is very shy and scared and we have not had any luck getting someone to commit to do what it would take to bring him around. If he were to be surrendered to a shelter he would certainly be PTS and Hope is very concerned with winter coming on. I will be posting an update on the dogs soon.