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’s case, someone raised a hand, a hand of hope and understanding, “We’ll take him,” that was grace in full flight. Humility, candour and absolute compassion is all it takes, Yuki won on that day.

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.

It happened that one day a local “Kill Centre” 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.

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.

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’s family quickly realised the dramatic challenge ahead. With the WolfDog, many people quickly find themselves struggling to manage the animal.

The “Kill Centre” explained that they couldn’t adopt him out because of the probability that it was a wolf, but said to the SWS, “if you guys want to come and evaluate, we will give you the opportunity to rescue before we euthanize.” 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.