“MARYLAND 16” RESCUE, 2007 – The Story Told

It has now been almost a year since the rescue of the “Maryland 16”.  These were 16 low content wolfdogs, confiscated as part of an arrest made for breeding and selling wolfdogs in Maryland, where wolfdogs are illegal.  The account of the confiscation and prosecution is quoted below,  courtesy of the shelter staff...

“On January 11,2007 our office received a complaint about someone advertising for sale "hybrid pups".  Upon our arrival we observed a NO TRESPASSING sign, at that time we requested for a sheriffs deputy to accompany us onto the property.  Once on the property we found 11 adult wolf dogs and 2 pups in what appeared to be an un electrified fence.  This fence was about chest high to the adult woofers.  The pups came out under the bottom wire to drink water from the ditch.  Upon our observations the woofers were being fed whole chickens from the owners chicken house, they had 1 five gallon bucket of water for all these animals. The only type of shelter these woofers had was a pile of wood, trees, pieces of pallets, pieces of carpet and linoleum from which they made a den.   In the photo you see 3 wooden doghouses but there was wire all around them, the adults could not use these.  the owner stated the doghouses were for the pups not the adults, the wire was to keep the adults out.  There were three adults away from the pack on chains in mud holes.  One adult female had her collar embedded in her neck.  All three of these woofers had no visible signs of water and the only food we found were chicken carcases on the ground covered in mud. All 16 animals were seized immediately by officers Pruitt and Glover.

The charges filed against the owner are as follows:

"The above named defendant was in possession of 14 adult wolf dogs and 2 pups, as specified in the Maryland Criminal Law Annotated Copy 2006 Edition, specifies on page 10-621 section (B) Prohibited- A person may not import into the state, offer for sale, trade, barter, posses, breed, or exchange a live: (6) hybrid of a member of the wolf family and a domestic dog."  The owner ran an ad in our local paper which read as follows:"Hybrid Malamutes for sale $200.00".

Upon judgement the owner was found guilty of the above charges.  Since all woofers were placed the only thing we asked for was reimbursed for our board and extra food and care for the woofers.  The judge ordered the owner to pay $2103.00 to Somerset County Dog Control.  He also ordered the owner not to posses another "exotic" animal while residing in Maryland and advised to check all local and state laws in the future if he decides to move.”

A call was placed by Defenders of Wildlife to Ken Collings of Wolfdog Rescue Resources, Inc. for help in placing the 16 confiscated animals, 14 adults and two 3 month old pups.  The shelter would keep them as long as they could, but if no help could be found, the dogs would have to be euthanized.  The shelter is small, and sixteen of these large animals brought it close to capacity.  This ominous prospect looming the shelter staff, who were getting more attached to these woofers by the day, did what they could to buy them as much time as possible.  With the rescues and sanctuaries overflowing, placing 16 at once was a daunting task, further complicated by the fact that very few of these animals had been socialized.

WRR posted an appeal for help on yahoo group Wolfdogadoption, but responses were disappointing as a result of the influx of rescues. One pup was placed, as well as one of the adult females. A New Jersey listmember responded with a home for the other pup and got the disappointing news about the prospects for the rest.  In a last ditch effort to place the other 13, she sent out emails to all rescue, equine, and animal lover friends about the remaining 13….and things started to look up!  These neglected animals stirred hearts, and the emails were forwarded to friends of friends across country and responses started coming in.  Howling Woods Farm Inc. offered help, as did Spindletop Rescue, Loki Clan and a number of private citizens looking to adopt or help in some way. 

This collective effort on the parts of a large group of people, many of whom had never met is what saved the lives of the “Maryland 16” and gave them hope.  Slowly the exodus of the 16 from the shelter to their respective homes or temporary housing commenced.  Because of the budgetary constraints at the shelter, all spay/neuter and veterinary costs were absorbed by the receiving rescues, fosters and adoptive homes.  None of these animals had been spayed or neutered and many suffered from worms and/or Lyme disease.  Nahmi, the alpha female suffered from tumors and had two surgeries prior to crossing the rainbow bridge.  Alley had a chain embedded in her neck, which was treated and resolved at the shelter.

Handsome and Alley (who was the pet of the shelter) were flown to Spindletop Rescue in TX;  Cinnamon, Mocha, Whiteface, Pee Wee, Jr and Mascara all went to Howling Woods Farm thanks to the tireless efforts of Mike Hodanish.  Eventually Pee Wee, Jr and Mascara went on to adoptive homes and Cinnamon, Mocha, and Whiteface made their way in the long car ride to Loki Clan. Cherokee, Wooly, Nahmi and Lobo all were adopted.  One pup was adopted and flown to FL, the other pup was adopted by the New Jersey WRR member, who is also fostering Saige and Angel (and previously Wooly).

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending….but…it could just as easily have gone the other way.  The court case against the breeder was resolved as detailed above, but with no mention of cruelty charges, or restitution to the rescues, fosters and adoptive homes who are caring for these animals.

UPDATE:

Jr. &  Peewee, renamed Casey and Stella, are now living with a young married couple, a teacher and a nurse, on a farm in northern New Jersey.  They stay in touch frequently and report that Casey and Stella are doing well.

Lobo is happy in his home in Southern NJ, with a new companion, along with Tonka, who was also adopted from the MD shelter, but not one of the original 16.  Sadly, Nahmi was diagnosed with advanced cancer and crossed the rainbow bridge June 1, 2007 due to fears of rupturing tumors.

Handsome aka Handy and Alley are doing wonderfully and actually are residing at Spindletop Rescue in Texas.  The rescue has moved onto acreage where they now have horses, cows, goats, etc., and the woofers are now part of the “security” staff keeping coyotes away!

Whiteface, Mocha and Cinnamon are now rehomed at the Loki Clan Wolf Refuge in Conway, New Hampshire.  They were featured in Loki Clan's last quarterly newsletter.  The three are living in a one acre enclosure with a young male wolfdog, and Loki Clan's administrator, Fred, says they are getting along very well.  Whiteface in particular has become very fond of Fred and runs up to the gate to greet him every time he visits.

Foxy (now Spirit) is happy in her southern NJ home, as are Saige and Angel.  Saige is now making great progress with his socialization skills getting obedience and agility training, generously donated by a local K-9 trainer…with possible progression to SAR.  It’s looking like these two fosters aren’t going anywhere soon!!

Wooly and Cherokee are both happy in their respective adoptive homes and new companion animals.  Both are house dogs now, and while Wooly had a little harder time adjusting to indoor life, it was nothing that a few hot dogs wouldn’t cure!!

Mascara is living on a two acre estate in East Rutherford, NJ, where she shares an enclosure with two wolfdogs and two pitbulls.  They are living with a young married couple...the husband runs a restaurant and is a councilman for East Rutherford. 

An update on the other pup, Roxy, was unavailable.