My Service Learning hours, for my Colloquium class, were spent at ShyWolf Sanctuary in Naples, Florida. ShyWolf Sanctuary is a safe place for many wild and exotic animals which included Florida Panthers, two different kinds of foxes, wolves, wolf-dogs, coyotes, prairie dogs, and rabbits. The majority of these animals were brought to the Sanctuary after being critically hurt, sick, or rescued from abusive situations. At the time of my service there were 35 wolves / wolf-dogs, 1 coyote, 2 panthers, 3 foxes, 4 prairie dogs and a whole lot of rabbits. All animals required special diets and habitats to survive.
The animals are separated into their individual habitats which are cleaned and restocked daily by the volunteers and owners of the Sanctuary. I was actually surprised on my first day at the Sanctuary because the animal habitats are actually built around and in the back of the owner’s residence. The house is situated at towards the end of a road in a residential area. The wolves are separated in pairs or into larger groups of 3-5 wolves depending on their character and their established relationships. All the animals are neutered to avoid increase in population. Every animal seems to have a story of origin and most are cruel and sad.
One wolf was rescued after being abused for 5 years. The owners had the wolf on a chain and choker out in the sun for the majority of the 5 years. The neighborhood children would throw rocks, sticks, and metal cans at the wolf. The owners fell on hard times as the husband was arrested and incarcerated and the wife returned to Mexico. The wolf was left behind to die without food or water. A Good Samaritan ended up calling Animal Protection and the wolf was retrieved. Unfortunately, the wolf was ill with numerous parasites, heartworm, and it’s metal chock chain was now imbedded into his skin. Animal protection originally planned to euthanize the wolf but the Sanctuary took him in and nursed him back to health. Now he is the Alpha Male of his small pack of 3 and has rebounded in heath and spirit, living a more fulfilling life.
Another wolf was used on a breeding farm (for wolves) and had dozens of litters but when she started to produce less and less, she was left to die with food or water. She was rescued and brought to ShyWolf Sanctuary but she was not responsive at first. The wolf refused to eat and just slept all day. She was not very receptive to the volunteers or other wolves. The owners found the solution for the wolf’s depression when they rescued to wolf puppies from a similar breeding farm. The female wolf was immediately receptive of the wolf cubs and became their replacement mother. Today she still lives in the habitat with both of the cubs.
The volunteers are all from different paths and unique in their own sense. Many are high school and University students but there are also volunteers that have been helping out the Sanctuary for years. The volunteers are there for the animals and to help the Sanctuary with the giant responsibility to take care of the animals but we must also recognize the many others that donate funds to the Sanctuary. The price to preserve these animals is high. In one week, the wolves alone, consume 1500 pounds of meat (beef and chicken). Also all these animals are routinely assessed and treated by a veterinarian. Even with the all the effort to help the animals, ShyWolf Sanctuary continues to have opposition. I was told by the owner of the Sanctuary that some PETA activist challenged ShyWolf Sanctuary by stating that to keep the animal caged in a artificial habitat was cruel. The owner responded back with a simple question that the activist couldn’t answer: How long do you think that a wolf that has never known the wildness survive on its own?
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