If you're thinking of getting a wolf pup for a pet, you need to know several things BEFORE you buy!
There are several newspaper ads listing wolf cubs under the "dogs for sale" category.
We asked the folks from Safari's Wildlife Sanctuary in Broken Arrow about this.
They've rescued many exotic animals, including wolf pups.
They say, technically they are wolf hybrids, part wolf, part dog.
But even being part wolf makes them an "exotic."
And it's againt the law to have them in city limits.
They can be sold, and owned... only outside city limits.
Safari's also tells us, the majority end up being put to sleep, because the breeders don't tell the people they're not allowed in the city, and they don't tell them about their "non domestic" habits.
A wolf or wolf hybrid can:
* Dig new holes every day -killing yards and gardens
* Dig under any fence within minutes - they generally require a hot wire to keep them fenced in.
* Howl every night
* Jump an 8 foot fence
* A higher percentage wolves require a raw meat diet (which cannot be purchased at grocery store) with added vitamins/calcium.
* Get annoyed with small dogs/cats and can/will kill them.
* If found in city limits, game wardens look for yellow eyes, long lanky legs, larger feet, and knot on the top of the head -if they have these general features, they will deem them a wolf -and confiscate or give sometimes just 3 days to place them, or they will be euthanized.
* If a wolf/hybrid reaches a shelter, they usually euthanize immediately because sanctuaries and wolf shelters are all full -nationwide.
Safari's says, "This is a huge problem, and very sad."
