Sanctuary Life in a Wolfdog's Golden Years

a 15-year-old male wolfdog with a white coat, long lanky legs, and a striking pink nose. Luca’s journey to Wolf Haven began in January 2015, when he was confiscated from a private owner who intended to kill him for his pelt. Fortunately, Luca found sanctuary at Wolf Haven.

 

Like many of our sanctuary residents, Luca is considered to be an older, aging wolfdog. The health of our geriatric residents is a major focus for our animal care team. We ensure they have plenty of room to roam in their natural enclosures, and are provided with amazing veterinary care and a well-rounded nutritious diet.

 

Planning and maintaining a high-quality, individual dietary plan for each animal takes teamwork and professional oversight. Animal care staff prepare specialized meals for every resident - usually consisting of frozen meat from local butchers, fish and deer sourced from local roadkill, or thawed meat for geriatric wolves. For wolves with specialized needs, supplements are carefully measured and delivered each day.

 

This specialization of care is in the details. This past winter, for example, our animal care team noticed Luca developing minor stiffness, not unusual for his age. But because Luca enjoys sitting atop the wooden platform in his enclosure, his stiffness was making getting to the top more difficult. Our team responded by building Luca an extra step on the platform for easier access, and now he continues to survey his land like a king.

 

Partnering with you is crucial to ensuring all of the animals at our sanctuary, like Luca, receive individualized and compassionate care that gives dignity and enrichment to their lives. Providing Luca with the support he needs to live a healthy life takes a team that includes you!