{"id":2557,"date":"2019-06-15T13:05:57","date_gmt":"2019-06-15T13:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/?p=2557"},"modified":"2019-06-15T13:52:18","modified_gmt":"2019-06-15T13:52:18","slug":"yuki-the-enigmatic-shy-wolf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/yuki-the-enigmatic-shy-wolf\/","title":{"rendered":"Yuki – The Enigmatic Shy Wolf"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>6 Page Article – 15th June 2019
\nClick on Images for full size.<\/em><\/strong><\/h6>\n

It\u2019s widely believed that all dogs today trace their roots to a single group of wolves that crossed the path of humans almost 40,000 years ago. Researchers in this fascinating study believe that domestication happened from two separate wolf populations, one in Europe and the other in Asia.<\/p>\n

Recent DNA analysis has shown that ancient dogs first split from wolves around 40,000 years ago, most likely caused by the presence of human camps. However, the latest understanding indicates that, rather than humans actively taming wild wolves, it would have started with the animals approaching hunter-gatherer camps in search of food.<\/p>\n

As time went by, it is reckoned that integration of the wolf\/dog human friendship was well established around 7000 years ago, dogs had pretty much evolved in comparison with today\u2019s modern hound breed and were spreading everywhere, across the globe.<\/p>\n

Modern Researchers have reached the opinion that the European dog of that period is most likely the one that went on to father many of the modern dog breeds found today. With careful assumptions, the findings relied upon fossilised DNA of two dogs dug up in Germany, 7000 and 4700 years old, which they compared to modern day hounds.<\/p>\n

It was in 1955 that Karel Hartl began to consider crossing a Carpathian wolf with a German shepherd as a scientific experiment at the military kennels in Czechoslovakia.<\/p>\n

A few years later, the idea was born and so too was the establishment of a new breed of hybrid.<\/p>\n

The first hybrids of a female wolf named Brita and a male German shepherd named Cesar were born on 26 May 1958 in Lib\u011bjovice.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s fast forward into the 20th<\/sup> Century, the origin of the wolf, hybrid wolf and dog that has spread globally in many countries for various reasons.<\/p>\n

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog were eventually engineered as attack dogs for use in military special operations done by the Slovak special forces commandos, but were later also used in search and rescue, schutzhund, tracking, herding, agility, obedience, hunting and drafting in Europe and the United States.<\/p>\n

It was officially recognized as a national breed in Slovakia in 1982, and was officially recognised as a breed by Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1989.<\/p>\n

And so our story begins<\/u>.<\/p>\n

A story, far removed from the normal everyday activity of the average pet owner, living and loving the plethora of domestic animals cared for in millions, if not billions of homes worldwide.<\/p>\n

This brief moment in time dips into the life of one very special four legged friend. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A friend as complex in nature and habitat as the ferule wolf, yet as beautiful in kind as any home reared pet that could ever exist in family life. Indeed, a friend having one important exception.<\/p>\n

This four legged friend is unique, he\u2019s special, he\u2019s aged, he\u2019s big, really big; but most of all, he is an out and out 87.5% Grey Wolf.<\/p>\n

His family name is \u201cYuki\u201d. Abandoned at eight months old by his original owners living on Florida\u2019s east coast, Yuki ended up in a Florida high-kill shelter.<\/p>\n

Yuki is absolutely Wolf. He\u2019s also a little bit Dog, but to be sure, his DNA results have cast in him, a true identity without any shadow of doubt, that he is indeed, the true, unequivocal perfect hybrid example of the enigmatic much misunderstood; \u201cWolfDog\u201d.<\/p>\n

This wonderful animal now lives his days in care. Don\u2019t ask about his formative existence. That is Yuki\u2019s secret, whether it is one of human kindness or one of suppression and constant struggle, wherever the reality sits, a glimpse into Yuki\u2019s eyes will never reveal the twain.<\/p>\n

He is a champion of virtue, the proverbial Gentle Giant, the delicate Shy Wolf. To know Yuki\u2019s trust is to learn about real affection without conditions, that\u2019s how it is in life; we know it in literature as \u201ctrue love\u201d.<\/p>\n

There is and always will be an eventual end to everything known. Creation, the Universe as we understand it, you, me and what\u2019s more, in this edit, the acceptable end for Yuki as he lives out his senior years at the Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

What stands out so respectfully for me in the light of Yuki and his current predicament of daily life under the protection of the \u201cShy Wolf Sanctuary USA\u201d is the volume of volunteers ready to give time and affection to an estranged ragged looking old animal wolf.<\/p>\n

A wolf formerly tagged as expendable and extinguishable under the pompous global pseudo law conjured by mankind as a right to euthanatize whatever we need to forget about. In Yuki\u2019s case, someone raised a hand, a hand of hope and understanding, \u201cWe\u2019ll take him,\u201d that was grace in full flight. Humility, candour and absolute compassion is all it takes, Yuki won on that day.<\/p>\n

The Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Centre is an exotic animal sanctuary operating out of Naples, FL USA. They rescue animals previously owned as exotic pets. Kent and Nancy Smith started rescuing animals in 1993 and the Sanctuary became a 501-c3 (USA registered) non-profit organisation in 2001.<\/p>\n

It happened that one day a local \u201cKill Centre\u201d telephoned the SWS with news that a dog had been handed in and could well be set for processing. The animal had likely become too much to handle and the easiest option was deemed to have it euthanized. They felt sure also, that it was a WolfDog.<\/p>\n

More often than not, people underestimate the volume of commitment required to own and care for an animal like Yuki. They believe that if they raise an exotic animal like the wolf from a pup, it will grow up acting like a fun-loving attention-seeking pet dog.<\/p>\n

Then one day the family pet begins acting like the wolf they are, shy and wanting nothing to do with people. Very soon as the weeks go by, the wolf begins presenting the unique challenges that exotic animals always do and as Yuki\u2019s family quickly realised the dramatic challenge ahead. With the WolfDog, many people quickly find themselves struggling to manage the animal.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKill Centre\u201d explained that they couldn\u2019t adopt him out because of the probability that it was a wolf, but said to the SWS, \u201cif you guys want to come and evaluate, we will give you the opportunity to rescue before we euthanize.\u201d On arrival, the first glance revealed absolute – Yuki was very obviously a high content WolfDog; so instantly they were able to pull him away from death row and give him a home in the Shy Wolf Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Now it turns out that Yuki is indeed a very special animal. One that his owner thought was an easy task to handle. Statistically, the numbers of successful WolfDog owners is stacked incredibly high towards outright failure. These hybrids are extremely difficult animals to manage and while it has been done successfully in a many homes, 99.99% of people are not capable of doing well.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, this wonderful giant is so different from many other wolf hybrids. Tests carried out through DNA sampling revealed that he is for all intents and purposes a full-blooded wolf.<\/p>\n

Observation by the Sanctuary team soon revealed how he naturally formed close bonds with some people, so much so that he becomes defensive of them. That is not something usually seen in the other resident animals as in most cases, if someone kicked in your front door, you can bet on your WolfDog being the first to run out the back door.<\/p>\n

In 2018 SWS received a grant to DNA tests for all of their animals, which is why they know all their true contents now. In Yuki\u2019s case, the test was astounding. He is 87.5% Gray Wolf, 8.6% Siberian Husky, and 3.9% German Shepherd. To be clear, it\u2019s easier to accept that he is a true blooded Wolf.<\/p>\n

As a point of interest, looking at an animal and determining what they are mixed with is called Phenotyping. An experienced WolfDog handler and keeper can tell pretty quickly from just looking at an animal if it has any wolf content and that is a very important factor for the Sanctuary within their rescue scope.<\/p>\n

Yuki is one of the most obvious WolfDogs the centre has seen so it was an easy call to admit him into the group. The decision to DNA test him was unrelated. They would not normally spend hard-earned donations on something like a DNA test because of the experience to evaluate them individually based on behaviour not wolf percentage.<\/p>\n

Yuki is one of the larger kept animals and has a reserved preference of being fondly attached to some of the female volunteers who help out regularly. In keeping with the tradition of Wolf behaviour, these chosen few female carers are affectionately referred to as his “Harem”. Brittany, the girl in the viral photo is a member. The relationship is one of complete affection to the point of being protective. In fact, it makes sense because his harem is very protective of him.<\/p>\n

He enjoys the Sanctuary and can easily eat up to 10 lbs. of raw meat four times a week, in total, around 40 lbs. a week. That\u2019s a good appetite in light of his senoir years. His temperament is steady considering that WolfDogs are normally very choosy about who they can be housed with. He has always resided with a female WolfDog named Bella and while Yuki is much larger than her, she is by far the dominant one.<\/p>\n

Having now reached 12 years old, when he isn’t doting on one of his favourite volunteers, or being fed, he spends most of his time relaxing in the sun and responding to people as they walk by. The life span of a wolf in captivity is around 12-14 years – the same as a large domestic dog.<\/p>\n

Is there anything our readers should know about your mission at the Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Centre? How can our readers support the Sanctuary’s efforts, even from afar?<\/p>\n

For the future, the Sanctuary\u2019s most important initiative is to move. They have been making the most of a 2.5 acre lot in residential area since 1993 and have now out grown the space. They are currently searching for around 40 acres in Lee or Collier County to purchase and develop. This of course is going to come with a heavy cost, and any donations world-wide will be a great support.<\/p>\n

They also have a gofundme page to go along with a few follow-up articles making sure that everyone knows that there are a lot of other gorgeous yet displaced Wolves, WolfDogs and other exotics out there in desperate need of rescue and there is an urgent need for this new facility to save them.<\/p>\n

From the attention the centre has received it is clear that the world loves Yuki almost as much as the Sanctuary Staff does. Truth be known, there are so many more beautiful Wolves, WolfDogs and other exotics out there that are in need of being rescued.<\/p>\n

The Shy Wolf Sanctuary is desperately in fund raising mode so that there will be enough funds to build a much larger facility.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a humongous task and certainly one that they cannot do alone. It would be great to see many new friends of Yuki and the Sanctuary make a small donation.<\/p>\n

SWS currently houses a variety of endangered species<\/em><\/strong> including wolves, dingoes, panthers, New Guinea Singing Dogs, and Florida gopher tortoises. WolfDogs, raccoons, coyotes and skunks are just some of those not classified as endangered who have also made SWS their home. Game of Thrones fans might get inspired thinking of the pack of Dire wolves featured in the series. One look at Yuki\u2019s happy face and it\u2019s clear that he\u2019s found a safe, loving home.<\/p>\n

Shy Wolf Sanctuary fills a niche that is needed between Zoos, Wildlife Rehabilitators, and Domestic Animal Shelters. Zoos don\u2019t typically rescue animals and require known blood lines. Rehabilitators focus on native animals that can be healed and released. Shelters are not equipped to deal with captive-bred exotic pets and will generally euthanize them. Shy Wolf shares the stories of the resident animals to heal the mind, body and spirit of the Healing Hearts participants: Children\u2019s Network of Southwest Florida, PACE Center for Girls, Youth Haven, Valerie\u2019s House, and the Naples Shelter. Participants leave filled with renewed hope and knowledge that if the animals can overcome abuse, neglect and abandonment\u2026so can they.<\/p>\n

If you would like to help this worthy cause, don\u2019t hesitate to follow the links in this story to make a small worthwhile contribution for Yuki and friends by visiting:
\nhttps:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/help-shy-wolf-sanctuary-get-to-their-new-home<\/a><\/p>\n

For more information about Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Centre, please contact Dragon Horse Agency<\/a> at 305-306-3992, or email communications@shywolfsanctuary.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shy Wolf Sanctuary
\nshywolfsanctuary.org<\/a>
\nP.O. Box 3032
\nNaples, FL 34106
\nContact: Dragon Horse Agency<\/a>
\n305-306-3992
\nSecondary contact: communications@shywolfsanctuary.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

6 Page Article – 15th June 2019 Click on Images for full size. It\u2019s widely believed that all dogs today trace their roots to a single group of wolves that crossed the path of humans almost 40,000 years ago. Researchers in this fascinating study believe that domestication happened from two separate wolf populations, one in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,18,14],"tags":[22,23,7,16],"class_list":["post-2557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-twitter","category-wolf","category-wolfdoguk","tag-shy-wolf","tag-wolf","tag-wolfdog","tag-wolfdoguk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfdog.co.uk\/den\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}