16 years ago a wolf hybrid came into our care. As outdoor enthusiasts and me employed as a wild-life biologist working outdoors most days, we felt well up to the task at hand which we knew was going to be arduous, but joyous—and he was too precious to let slide away. He came with the name, which we kept “Hakuna Matate” and though “the name means no worries the rest of your days” (according to disney) for us, well, there were plenty of worries! Though “only” a hybrid (~85 wolf/15 Malamute), rest assured, raising a wolf-dog is still 99% raising a wolf! I can so relate to the tale above, having come home to much “dog-struction” as you tell. I can only imagine the wrath of a lonely Kuna, had he not had Sparky, the husky mutt, and Robin, the lab, to be always at his side.

We had Kuna for 5 years before we dared leave him out of our care for an extended time. He stayed with his “grandparents” while we went to France. We got the first call while still in the airport: Kuna had (already) figured out how to open the latched sliding glass door and was off! Fortunately, he was in the mountains and safe from cars and guns and “jackaled” back almost as quickly as he had left. He just wanted us all to rest assured that his compliance was completely of his own volition.

We have a (2-page!) set of “protocols” for Kuna care, beyond the normal of feeding and watering and walking. And we always joke about Rule #1.) Never trust the wolf, followed by, Rule #2: Refer to Rule #1.)

Now he is an old man, but still as wily as ever! Recently, I left him home (alone: violating rule #3: Assure the wolf has company!) as I went out for a hike too tough for his old man-ed-ness. Not at ALL pleased by the situation (refer to rule #1), the wolf who can no longer bear to do “paws up” to get in the truck and must be lifted, managed to jump up on the 4 foot tall day bed, push open a sliding window, exit via a 6 ft. drop, where he found a weakness (?!) in the 6-8ft tall fence, after which he promptly tottered down the street 3 blocks to a friend’s house, who was home sick, (How did he know that she would be home?!) He scratch scratch scratched at the door, she let him in and he took up napping next to her sick bed. Ahhhh, there is nothing like a wolfie.