Wolf Stories, Sasha

Sasha

sex: male
born: January 1992 (est.)
birth place: Colorado~

deceased: 20 October 1997

given sanctuary: 02 December 1994

Sasha's Story

Once upon a November night in 1994, Wolf received a call from a resident of Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado, who had captured an animal in a live-trap and needed assistance. The individual had set the trap in order to capture the killer of three of his pet pygmy goats, an animal he would then turn over to animal control. What he found on that evening was an animal with the eyes of a wise old spirit that needed to live. The captor happened to be a biology professor who, understanding the nature of nature, put two and two together and got a hungry wolf-dog on the lam or, in this case, on the goat.

When Frank & Pat arrived at the scene, they found a frightened wolf-dog, contained and groaning. It took an hour to calm the animal enough to coerce it into a travel kennel, and with that done, he was taken back to our facility where he could be examined more closely. He appeared to be a fairly young male, probably high percentage wolf, slightly underweight, and slightly offensive to the nose. Although cautious, he allowed us to walk him on a leash without incident, and he displayed the typical lope of a wolf. He was returned to his kennel for the first night in his new home, where he groaned and whined until Frank lay down to sleep next to his kennel. Upon veterinary examination the next day, it was determined that he was approximately two to three years old, seventy pounds (about thirty pounds under weight), and probably had been free-roaming for two to three months. Overall and all things considered, he was in good physical shape. Getting to know the animal was the next step, behavior being the window to the "personality". Watching Sasha became a wonderfully rewarding experience for the Wendlands, teaching us not only about Sasha but about the nature of wolf-dogs in general, particularly their adherence to the social behavior of pure wolves.

Sasha had most likely been abused as any quick motions of hands or feet caused him to whine and cower, usually hiding his head. With the other wolf-dogs, he was as playful as a puppy, and within two months, became the dominant male within that group. He assumed the role of father to the nine cubs that had been rescued by Wolf and as such, taught them play fighting, how to hunt the elusive mouse, and about the establishment of the social hierarchy. He made allowances for play time, was stern when disturbed from other activities, protective when unsure of some human's intentions, and was loving and nurturing during the ever important times of rest. The cubs, now adults, have been adequately prepared for life at the Sanctuary. Having assumed the role of vital protectorate and again in charge of rearing a new cub at the facility, the 'Great One' became affectionately referred to as 'Uncle Sash'.

Sasha's Memorial

We are saddened to report that on Sunday, September 21st, this gentle spirit left us due to complications from diabetes. For those of us who were privileged to know Sasha, he was our friend and teacher. For those of you who never had the opportunity to meet him, we hope you will someday know a spirit as beautiful as his. Sasha left us before we were ready for him to go. Good-bye Sasha, we will hold you in our hearts.

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