Sanctuary Saves Wolfdog Dumped at Kill Shelter After Owner Considers Him Too Much To Handle
Yuki’s story starts with a dog that was simply too much for one owner to handle. The wolfdog, part gray wolf, part husky, and part German shepherd, ended up dumped at a kill shelter after his owner decided he was more than they could manage.
That choice set off a chain of events that brought Yuki to the Shy Wolf Sanctuary, where his size, behavior, and background all made him stand out. What happened next shows how quickly a beautiful animal can go from unwanted to protected.
His rescue is only the beginning of the story.
Not as Big as He Seems
Although Yuki appears to be huge, his owner claims that he isn’t as big as he seems.
Yuki's Story
Yuki was saved from a bad living situation. When interviewed, his owner, Brittany Allen, had this to say...
“We rescued him from a failed house pet situation. Someone purchased him from a breeder and realized he was too much to handle. They dumped him at a kill shelter when he was 8 months old. We stepped in and provided a home for him, and he has been with us ever since.”
More on His Story
The Shy Wolf Sanctuary added...
“Yuki came to us in 2008. He was in reasonably good health compared to many of the animals that come to us and had a very outgoing personality initially. We even considered him for ambassadorship at one point. Shortly after arriving at Shy Wolf Sanctuary, Yuki managed to catch a leg on a palmetto and opened up a wound on his right rear knee. The wound ultimately required a total of 5 surgeries to repair, and during that time, Yuki became cage aggressive.”
Yuki in His New Home
Volunteers from the Shy Wolf Sanctuary shared pictures of Yuki in his new home that truly showcased his personality.
“Yuki loves women, showing off to visitors, and being super goofy.”
This is the same kind of joy as the chained dog who finally saw the sea, then reacted with happy tears.
A Selective Dog
One volunteer had this to say about his personality...
“Yuki is one of those animals that lets you know if he wants you in his enclosure or not. He has a very small group of women that he allows in his enclosure, which he calls his ‘harem.’”
About the Shy Wolf Sanctuary
The Shy Wolf Sanctuary was founded in 2001. It was established to provide a safe space for wolves and other animals bred in captivity while they are rehabilitated. They have a 2.5-acre property in Naples, Florida, that they use as a home for the animals.
The Sanctuary's Mission Statement is to “Reconnect People and Animals Through Education”
“Today, Yuki is one of the most interesting animals in the sanctuary. He is not an easy guy to get to know, but he does have a small number of volunteers he has bonded with. He has gained the nickname ‘Woowoo’ because when he sees any of his chosen volunteers, that is the noise he makes, beckoning that volunteer to come spend time with him.”
More Challenges for Yuki
The sanctuary received some heart-wrenching news that Yuki has contracted blood cancer.
“He was diagnosed with cancer last year, and unfortunately, it is terminal. We have dealt with this particular cancer before, and ultimately, you don’t really know how fast you caught it and how much time they have. Yuki has been fighting it for quite a while now and is persevering, so it is business as usual while we enjoy our time with Yuki. When the day comes that he starts showing symptoms, we will, as we always do, make the right decisions for Yuki’s quality of life.”
Hope for the Future
Despite the bad news that keeps being thrown Yuki's way, we hope he will remain his friendly self and will not suffer any more than he has been.
Best wishes, Yuki!
Yuki sounds big, but wait until you see Akela, the rescued puppy dubbed the “world’s largest wolf”.
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