Wamaka arrived as a pup with a major jaw defect that prevented him from eating properly. We had three options: to put him down; try to align his teeth through surgery that would involve breaking his jaw, cutting and then resetting bone with no guarantee of success; or let him live as best he could making sure he got enough to eat. We chose to help him live as best he could, but it was hard to keep weight on him. For a while he was losing weight no matter how much we fed him, so we took him into the cabin for observation. We put him in a temporary kennel, left for ten minutes, and above are the result of 10 minutes of wolf-joy. Jean is wooing him into allowing himself to be picked up before he leaps over Jean’s shoulder onto the next table for more joyous destruction.
Wamaka
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I do volunteer work at our local humane society and one of my trainees (we do obedience training for our shelter dogs to make them more adoptable) had a jaw defect which hindered him from eating certain foods but it was nothing like you describe for Wamaka.
When I was with my trainee, I would think of the Japanese artistic concept of WABI-SABI which refers to the glory of imperfection and I would bless that little dog by glorying in his imperfection and expressing gratitude for it because it was HIS glorious imperfection which evoked a deep-seated willingness in others to reach out in unexpected ways with unexpected emotion.
No, it is not a simple problem for Wamaka or the caregivers but it is rich in blessings as it is embraced and, in a strange way, acknowledged for its positive contribution to our humanity.
Comment by Connie Glavin — September 26, 2010 @ 9:48 am
I love that expression, “joyous destruction”. It would be interesting to know her age now. Also it would be interesting to know just how they arrive–like do they hobble in on their own or does someone bring them in or through ads in the paper or magazine. Its surprising to me that animals run into such problems. Its a bit disheartening I’d say. I previously thought they were all just perfectly made and lived out their lives. I knew the odd one might have handicaps or some type of limitation but not as many as they actually do. It’s the cutest thing to see a wolf right in the house. Each is special in its own way I guess just as people are…..
From Ontario, Canada
Comment by Anne Johnson — October 23, 2010 @ 8:55 am
I will not forget, for as long as I live, when Wamaka walked up to me as we were all seated with our backs to the middle of the circle. I wondered if I should be afraid as he came to me,but I didn’t move. Without hesitation he met me eye to eye and licked me three times on the left side of my face. I was Giddy, and overwhelmed with honor. “See,Connie, you are loved.” Penelope said to me that night. It still brings tears to my eyes. Isn’t this what it is all about-loving and caring for each other?
Comment by Connie Eastman — February 28, 2011 @ 8:04 pm
[...] toll otherwise. Wamaka has to come in. But Wamaka is a very big and somewhat rambunctious wolf and, from past experience, known for leaping on desks and table tops as if he is made only of air and huge paws, and the [...]
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