The Alaska Nine Pack

We got the call from Alaska. The same place that Ra and Tala came from was being investigated by the Attorney General’s Office. All the animals were in danger of becoming evidence in a court case, or possibly being killed. Something had to be done quickly to save the nine puppies that were under 10 weeks old. Even in the middle of our USDA problems, we knew we had to get them out of there. After hours and hours on the phone and a massive coordinated effort, we got them to the vet in Alaska, got their crates bought, got the airfare paid and on a plane to Albuquerque. They arrived hungry, thirsty and scared, but all made the trip in fairly good shape.

Serena’s grandmother offered her home near the airport, and Serena’s entire family was ready when we pulled up. The puppies were taken out of the crates and given baths in swimming pools. They had to have IV’s of fluids. They were toweled off and given food and water. All the crates had to be cleaned, a major job as you can imagine after 20 hrs of travel time. All the babies were held and checked. Serena’s family fed us pizza and we were ready for the ride home, where Joel was busy constructing their pen. It was finished just as we arrived home, tired but feeling good about our biggest rescue ever.

The puppies all had worms and were malnourished, but with proper vet care, those problems were soon remedied. All have had their shots. Falcon had a hernia that was operated on, and he and Big O have been neutered. Torq has suffered a seizure. After extensive x-rays and blood work, he has not had a repeat incident, but we are watching him carefully and hoping everything will be ok.

At six months of age, the pack is really starting to form their relationships and personalities. It is our goal to keep them all together, although this makes it really harder on us. Raising a nine pack of wolves to adulthood is a challenge! We are doing everything from teaching them not to eat shoes to how to howl. But what an extraordinary and wonderful experience. There is something serendipitous about starting the refuge with a pack of nine, and having this nine pack come to us now. It will be a thrill for visitors to be able to come and interact with them.

So many people rose to the occasion to help save these magnificent animals. Donors sent extra checks, volunteers gave even more of their time and energy, people put the word out, pictures are taken weekly and enough sponsors came forward that the rescue has been paid for! How amazing everyone involved with WolfWood is. Although there were many offers, we were the only refuge considered to take the pups and that is due to the good work all of you do.

Now that they are here, the job is just barely beginning. The pack will have some major needs. Vet bills are piling up, and we still need to spay and neuter most of them. Bayfield Animal Hospital has done an excellent job of tackling the challenge of working with nine wolves. Trinity has given up her enclosure for the winter so the pups will have enough space, but come spring, they will need a new, super, wolf enclosure. Keith and Tanya have offered to build it, but the cost will be at least $10,000. That was the cost of Ra’s pen and the puppy’s enclosure will have to be even bigger. Ra’s pen had to be built all at once, but Keith is going to build the puppy pen in panels, so it can be done in sections. Also, if we can get funding, he can build the panels all winter in his shop and the pen can be ready to assemble when the snow melts.

So many of you have been out to see and help with the puppies. They are so lucky to have all of you in their lives.

The members of the Alaska 9 pack joined the WolfWood family in July of 2011 as young weeks-old puppies. It was the largest single rescue in WolfWood's history. Since then, all the puppies have grown into beautiful and energetic young adults. Of course, all young adults have growing pains. With the coming of maturity, the Alaska 9 pack divided itself into two distinct packs. The first pack consists of Banshee, Bruja, Falcon, Kweo, Oakley and Torq. The second pack consists of Billy, Ginger and Sita.

Find the animal bios under "Departed Friends", Banshee, Billy, Bruja, Falcon, Ginger, Kweo, Oakley, Sita, Torq.