Phase
Two of the NAWA rescue is now complete and the animals are all now in a much
safer and healthier environment. At
a time when so many in the wolf and wolfdog community spend more time back
stabbing and bickering amongst themselves it was so refreshing to see a group of
people and organizations with differing philosophies and beliefs come together
for the good of the animals. Everyone
put aside the politics and worked long hours to pull off a rescue of this
magnitude.
For those of you that are not
aware of what has transpired, we would like to give you a brief history of what
has brought us to this point.
In
the summer of 2002, members of the wolfdog community became concerned about
information being shared regarding the animals at NAWA.
This led to an investigation that led to the closure of the facility.
During this time, a number of wolves and wolfdogs perished due to
illness. At least 17 animals died
to what was thought to be distemper. In
January 2003, the founder of NAWA was evicted from the facility.
At this time members of the wolfdog community came together to care for
the animals. Sam Lonewolf went to
the County Eviction Officer and said that he had cages to house the animals
after their initial quarantine. Temporary custodianship was placed in Sam
Lonewolf’s hands. Members of
W.O.L.F. offered to send personnel to Texas to train the NAWA volunteers in
basic animal husbandry techniques. The
offer was never accepted. In late January, a team from W.O.L.F. and Indigo
Mountain Nature Center traveled to Texas to perform the initial medical review
of the animals. During Phase One
the unsocialized animals were darted, inoculated, and complete blood drawn to
ascertain the seriousness of the situation.
The blood panels indicated severe dehydration, suspected parasites, and anemia in many. Poor nutrition was thought to be the primary cause for the ill health. A local veterinarian was called to the NAWA site to help with the exams and do the CBC. Her initial diagnosis confirmed our fears that many of the illnesses were due to the lack of appropriate nutritional care. Two additional vets confirmed her diagnosis as well.
These vets put together a new
feeding regiment and prescribed medications.
Antibiotics, wormer, vitamins and supplements were left for the care of
the animals. However they
disappeared prior to Tina Hart being able to administer them to the animals.
Some of these drugs had to be replaced through a local veterinarian at
additional cost to W.O.L.F.
Sam
Lonewolf was able to place the more socialized and friendly animals with
individuals. Lisa Day asked for and
has subsequently received Apache and Anasazi. Jean LeFevre asked for and
received ownership of Wacipi, Timbre, Yukon and Spirit.
Sam had more difficulty in his attempts to place the unsocialized
animals. A number of facilities had
indicated early on that they would be able to house the animals.
As the project progressed, these offers were withdrawn for a multitude of
reasons. In the end, Sam
Lonewolf was unable to place the remaining animals.
W.O.L.F. offered to take responsibility for them and Sam transferred
ownership of the animals to W.O.L.F. Jean
later took in Duchess.
Upon accepting ownership of the
animals, W.O.L.F. arranged with Doug & Kathy Joslyn to act as their
representative and oversee the care of the animals.
Tina Hart, a longtime volunteer and primary caregiver of the NAWA
organization, was asked to continue to care for the animals.
For her continued dedication, W.O.L.F. offered to pay for her services,
but the offer has been rejected.
The former NAWA Volunteers
formed their own organization known as Project Wolf and requested that the
ownership of some of the animals be transferred to them.
At the time W.O.L.F. agreed to do so if a set of stipulations regard
enclosure size and care were met. At
the time the animals were moved we have been told Project Wolf had still not
completed the fencing. Therefore,
W.O.L.F. has not been able to transfer the ownership.
After meeting the veterinarian’s
recommendation of quarantine for 2 months the animals showed noticeable signs of
improvement. The malnourished
animals had increased their weight enough to withstand being spayed or neutered
and moved. While the animals will
be permanently placed in Colorado, their current health is not at a level to
withstand the drastic change in temperatures and elevation.
Jerry Mills, a longtime wolfdog owner and breeder offered to house and
care for the animals at his home in Texas. Through donations from several
foundations and wonderful people in the wolfdog world, we constructed larger
pens at Jerry’s facility to house the animals for a few months while they are
allowed to mentally and physically heal. They have now been moved to larger,
clean enclosures with a grassy floor and only open sky above them.
On Tuesday the entourage arrived
at the former site of the North American Wolf Association to find animals with
calmer dispositions. They appeared
to be in much better health than we had found them in February at the time of
our first visit. Doug and Kathy
Joslyn had spent numerous hours at the “Rez” over the last two months caring
for the animals and attempting to socialize them.
They have had a major impact on many of the animals.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday
of this week, two vets and two vet techs darted the animals to perform medical
evaluations, inoculations, blood work, spays and neuters while a film crew from
Animal Planet documented the procedures. Jeff
Corwin, a wildlife biologist and zoologist, assisted in the procedures.
As each pair or pack was darted and evaluated, they were then placed in
large transportation cages, loaded into a trailer and transported to their new
enclosures at Jerry’s. The
animals all did well with the move and have done remarkably well in their new
enclosures. The four pack of Yanna
Usdi, Welela, Nahima and Aiyana have spent hours playing king of the mountain on
their new doghouse. Ahyoka and As
Gaya Dihi are prancing around their large new perimeter.
They have more space than they have ever seen before.
Lili Wi and Wascin are no longer pacing but sitting calmly at the fence
line watching what goes on around them. Max
has spent his time lounging in the sun and investigating his new surroundings.
Overall, the animals seem very happy to be away from the old facility.
We were pleasantly surprised at
how at ease and comfortable the animals were as we loaded them on a four-wheeler
to haul them out through the swamp to the awaiting trailer for the move.
A huge thank you goes out to
everyone in the wolfdog community that has made this rescue a success.
Here are just a few of the individuals and organizations that have been a
major part of this rescue:
We also want to thank everyone
who has generously donated their time, money and effort to this project.
Without all of you this rescue would not have been possible.
This project continues to
progress. We are far from being
done. The animals will need
continued medical care and new permanent habitats must be constructed.
Our goal is to have them all moved to their permanent homes by mid summer
2003. Fundraising efforts are under
way to raise the necessary money to complete the project.
If you would like to help in any way, please contact us.
ã Sue Cranston, Indigo Mountain Nature Center and Pam Thompson
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This is Beowolf. He and his sister are now safely in their new facility in Colorado. it is over a 1/2 acre pen. |
| As you can tell, Frackett is doing well. It is has been reported that she is enjoying her new life in Colorado. She and Beowolf showed signs of improved health prior to being moved. |  |
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| Yukon showed some of most noticeable improvement.
His eyes were bright and he appears to be a much happier and healthier
animal than he did two months ago.
He and Spirit have now moved to their permanent facility as well.
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| The picture above shows the New Mexico Pack prior to being
moved.
Sorry the photo on the right is a little fuzzy- but I wanted to show them enjoying not having a roof over their head in their temporary facility. |
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