Sabastian

sex: male
born: 23 January 1995
birth place: Colorado

deceased: 08 January 2006

given sanctuary: 01 September 1995

 

 

 

Sabe's Memorial
see Newsletter - Winter 2005/06 (click)

Sabe's Story

Sabe was born at an ex-breeders facility, where the owner wanted one more litter to continue the bloodlines of a particular animal that she was extraordinarily fond of. She kept two of the puppies and placed the other three from that litter. She told two of the families that received one of the pups that they were only 13% wolf. Visually, they do not appear to have any dog traits. They both had to sign a contract that had some stipulations that seem very bizarre.

“If for any reason I am unable to care for said animal it will be euthanized, not sold, given away, traded, or released to a shelter.”

“I will not use or give (breeder's name) name or address to anyone inquiring about said animal, how to obtain a like animal, or said animal’s origin.”

Although there were stipulations in this contract that required the individual to provide a large, secure enclosure, and that this enclosure would be inspected by the breeder, Sabe was placed with a couple that lived in a pretty typical suburban home, with a wooden fenced backyard; no inspection ever occurred.

Sabe's owners had very good intentions, but started running into trouble very early on in the training process. He would not respond to typical methods of training, and played extremely hard. His owner ended up with several stitches on the face during one of their play sessions. He was not bonding with the chow that his owners already owned, and did not travel well in the car or handle well on a leash. This was not the pet they thought they were getting. But they loved him, and they were the only parents he knew. They did not want to give up on him.

Sabe was starting to destroy household belongings, and finally was relegated to the backyard. In the backyard, his curiosity continued, and he destroyed all of the window screens, hoses and, finally, the propane barbecue. The yard looked like a war zone. As he grew and became stronger and more curious, he figured out how to get out of the yard, and would investigate the neighborhood every night, returning to the yard by morning. No matter what new preventative measures his owner installed on the fencing, he still found a way out. Neighbors were starting to get concerned, and animal control was called in to help resolve the situation. He was still escaping and still being what he is, a curious, energetic and social wolf. The owners were finally given an ultimatum by the authorities, and they reluctantly decided to place him at Wolf.

It just so happened that at this same time, we were being asked by a veterinarian and an animal trainer to consider taking a female that sounded a lot like Sabe. In this case, however, these individuals were trying to get the female, Akyra, away from an abusive situation, where concern for the animal's life was in question. As we looked more deeply into both situations, we discovered the contracts that were signed by both owners, and determined that Sabe and Akyra were litter mates and that both sets of owners had been told the same thing.

Sabe was moved to the Wolf facility; however, the owners of Akyra did not want to give her up. Finally, the district attorney demanded that Akyra's owners place her at Wolf, or he would file criminal charges against them. The two were finally reunited at Wolf and, although we are unsure of whether or not they remembered each other, they did bond very quickly. Another male, Kai, was received a month later, and the threesome was introduced to a new enclosure together. They all get along very well, even though, from time to time, Akyra seems to act out some aggression towards Sabe. It appears to be related to some sort of jealousy around Kai, who takes a nonpartisan stance to the situation.

Akyra also shows this level of jealousy when humans are present, and keeps both males away from her human. We deal with this attitude by primarily only having humans go into their enclosure as a group of three or four, and having them spread out so the boys get attention as well. Akyra can't quite keep up with all of the humans, so she picks one at a time to get her love from. As we consider the trauma that all of them have been through, we are amazed that they are as social and loving as they are with humans and with each other.

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