There's something about the wolf. Perhaps it's the image many have of the wild animal. Head lifted
toward the sky, howling the mournful song. They're mysterious, they're seen as remote, they're
handsome, and they're wild.
But some wolves, and some wolf-dog hybrids, haven't fared well. Wolves have been captured and are
bred as pets, whether as pure wolves or crossed with German Shepherds, in puppy mills around the
country. Then, owners may realize that puppy isn't so cute and cuddly anymore. A few of the animals
are abused by their owners. Some get rescued.
Tucked away in a remote corner of Limington, Runs With Wolves Sanctuary, a wolf rescue and education
center, provides a home for abused and neglected wolves and wolf-dogs. The non-profit organization
feeds and cares for the wolves with a small band of volunteers. There is no paid staff.
They give tours, by appointment only, to groups and individuals who express interest. Scouts and school
groups have come by, and the sanctuary has teamed up with Parsonsfield photographer Grady Weed as
a stop on his wildlife and scenic photography tours. "It's clean and well-kept. It's a good place," said
Weed who takes his tours there two or three times a week.
The sanctuary is a home where the creatures of the wild that are not accustomed to living in the wild and
can live out their days.
Brenda Foster, who began working with wolves as a volunteer elsewhere in 1987, founded the sanctuary
in 1990. It became a non-profit agency in 2004 and is operated with a board of directors.
"Why wolves?" said Foster. "It felt right. They're so intelligent, mysterious, and independent. I fell in love
with them." Board member and volunteer Danielle Adams agreed. "When they look you in the eyes, you
can see their souls and they can see yours," Adams said.
The sanctuary is home to eight wolves and wolf-dogs. While some of the wolf-dogs have been rescued in
Maine, several were bred in puppy mills out of state. It is a situation that frustrates Foster, who does not
breed the animals that end up at the sanctuary. The hybrids pose a problem, said Adams, because they
are a combination of domesticated animals and wild animals.
Wolf hybrids may be bred legally in Maine, said Animal Welfare Bureau Director Norma Worley. She said
she can't recall specific complaints of cruelty to the animals, but she said that many of those who register
complaints about abused dogs wouldn't necessarily know the animal being abused is a wolf hybrid. Many
are bred with German Shepherds and look like them, she noted.
The sanctuary contains several large areas ringed with high fences where the wolves and wolf-dogs live,
mostly by twos. Some are nervous as visitors approach, and pace. Others seem more adventurous, and
in the company of Foster or Adams, approach the fence and allow a visitor to stroke their fur.
Denali and Spirit, two wolves that came from a licensed out-of-state facility, were not abused. Their
owners were no longer able to care for the animals. Tessa, half husky and half arctic wolf, came to the
sanctuary in 2005 at 12 weeks old. She had originally been purchased from an Arkansas puppy mill as
a graduation present for a teen boy, said Foster. "She was very sick, She was loaded with parasites"
said Foster. Foster said she doesn't take every animal she's called about. Some, she said, are just too
aggressive. The first lesson they learn when they arrive at the sanctuary, she said, is trust.
Mariah, mostly wolf and part German Shepherd, came from Windham, where she'd lived after being
purchased in Florida. Mariah was the victim of abuse, said Foster. A former spouse of the owner tied her
to a tree, stabbed her with a knife and burned her with cigarettes, Foster said. Runs with Wolves took her in.
Tazlina, a pure gray wolf from Alaska, was purchased as a wedding present for a bride-to-be. "They
staked her to the ground on a short chain. She went around and around in circles," said Foster, who
said she sat motionless for three hours, waiting for the wolf to come to her. Eventually the animal, which
was suffering from pancreatitis, did. A veterinarian gave her a year to live back in 2002.
Timber, pure wolf, lives in the house, since he tended to run away from his previous home in another
state. Timber may be all wolf, and a bit shy with a stranger, but is confident enough - after a long, careful
look - to accept a dog treat.
The sanctuary and education center operates through donations for food, fencing, and straw for bedding.
The animals eat dry dog food as well as fresh meat. Foster said butchers who have cut up deer for
hunters will call and offer her the carcasses and the agency has had other donations, but with vet bills at
$1,200 a year just for routine care, expenses are hefty. Donations, mirroring the economy, are down.
Some fund-raising efforts have been fruitful but two recent public suppers haven't been successful,
Foster said.
toward the sky, howling the mournful song. They're mysterious, they're seen as remote, they're
handsome, and they're wild.
But some wolves, and some wolf-dog hybrids, haven't fared well. Wolves have been captured and are
bred as pets, whether as pure wolves or crossed with German Shepherds, in puppy mills around the
country. Then, owners may realize that puppy isn't so cute and cuddly anymore. A few of the animals
are abused by their owners. Some get rescued.
Tucked away in a remote corner of Limington, Runs With Wolves Sanctuary, a wolf rescue and education
center, provides a home for abused and neglected wolves and wolf-dogs. The non-profit organization
feeds and cares for the wolves with a small band of volunteers. There is no paid staff.
They give tours, by appointment only, to groups and individuals who express interest. Scouts and school
groups have come by, and the sanctuary has teamed up with Parsonsfield photographer Grady Weed as
a stop on his wildlife and scenic photography tours. "It's clean and well-kept. It's a good place," said
Weed who takes his tours there two or three times a week.
The sanctuary is a home where the creatures of the wild that are not accustomed to living in the wild and
can live out their days.
Brenda Foster, who began working with wolves as a volunteer elsewhere in 1987, founded the sanctuary
in 1990. It became a non-profit agency in 2004 and is operated with a board of directors.
"Why wolves?" said Foster. "It felt right. They're so intelligent, mysterious, and independent. I fell in love
with them." Board member and volunteer Danielle Adams agreed. "When they look you in the eyes, you
can see their souls and they can see yours," Adams said.
The sanctuary is home to eight wolves and wolf-dogs. While some of the wolf-dogs have been rescued in
Maine, several were bred in puppy mills out of state. It is a situation that frustrates Foster, who does not
breed the animals that end up at the sanctuary. The hybrids pose a problem, said Adams, because they
are a combination of domesticated animals and wild animals.
Wolf hybrids may be bred legally in Maine, said Animal Welfare Bureau Director Norma Worley. She said
she can't recall specific complaints of cruelty to the animals, but she said that many of those who register
complaints about abused dogs wouldn't necessarily know the animal being abused is a wolf hybrid. Many
are bred with German Shepherds and look like them, she noted.
The sanctuary contains several large areas ringed with high fences where the wolves and wolf-dogs live,
mostly by twos. Some are nervous as visitors approach, and pace. Others seem more adventurous, and
in the company of Foster or Adams, approach the fence and allow a visitor to stroke their fur.
Denali and Spirit, two wolves that came from a licensed out-of-state facility, were not abused. Their
owners were no longer able to care for the animals. Tessa, half husky and half arctic wolf, came to the
sanctuary in 2005 at 12 weeks old. She had originally been purchased from an Arkansas puppy mill as
a graduation present for a teen boy, said Foster. "She was very sick, She was loaded with parasites"
said Foster. Foster said she doesn't take every animal she's called about. Some, she said, are just too
aggressive. The first lesson they learn when they arrive at the sanctuary, she said, is trust.
Mariah, mostly wolf and part German Shepherd, came from Windham, where she'd lived after being
purchased in Florida. Mariah was the victim of abuse, said Foster. A former spouse of the owner tied her
to a tree, stabbed her with a knife and burned her with cigarettes, Foster said. Runs with Wolves took her in.
Tazlina, a pure gray wolf from Alaska, was purchased as a wedding present for a bride-to-be. "They
staked her to the ground on a short chain. She went around and around in circles," said Foster, who
said she sat motionless for three hours, waiting for the wolf to come to her. Eventually the animal, which
was suffering from pancreatitis, did. A veterinarian gave her a year to live back in 2002.
Timber, pure wolf, lives in the house, since he tended to run away from his previous home in another
state. Timber may be all wolf, and a bit shy with a stranger, but is confident enough - after a long, careful
look - to accept a dog treat.
The sanctuary and education center operates through donations for food, fencing, and straw for bedding.
The animals eat dry dog food as well as fresh meat. Foster said butchers who have cut up deer for
hunters will call and offer her the carcasses and the agency has had other donations, but with vet bills at
$1,200 a year just for routine care, expenses are hefty. Donations, mirroring the economy, are down.
Some fund-raising efforts have been fruitful but two recent public suppers haven't been successful,
Foster said.
| P.O. Box 249 Limington, Maine 04049 207-637-3007 Email: runswithwolvessanctuary@yahoo.com |
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| Sept. 6, 2009 Article |
| Dec. 6, 2008 Used by permission |
| Copyright 2008. All photographs are the exclusive property of Runs with Wolves Sanctuary and Grady Weed. All rights reserved. Website design & maintenance donated by Crescent Moon Herbals, 76 Center Road, Lebanon, Maine 04027 www.crescentmoonherbals.com |
| Welcome to Runs with Wolves Sanctuary Wolf Rescue and Education |