Montgomery wolf sanctuary needs new home, acreage

Achilles, a four-year-old wolfdog, is one of 12 animals under the care of the Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides a permanent home for non-releasable wolves and wolfdogs, in addition to educating the public about wolves, conservation and other related issues in Montgomery. The organization has begun the process of raising an estimated $600,000 for a new location after the lease on the organization's current property expires in 2018. less Achilles, a four-year-old wolfdog, is one of 12 animals under the care of the Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides a permanent home for non-releasable wolves and wolfdogs, in ... more Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Montgomery wolf sanctuary needs new home, acreage 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

The Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary has cared for wolves on property off a quiet country road in Montgomery since its founding in October 2002. The nonprofit serves as a fun, educational experience for animal lovers attracted to the exotic beauty of wolves and wolfdogs. But after 15 years, the sanctuary is looking for a new, more spacious home.

Manager Christie Guidry said SFWS needs to raise $600,000 before the property lease expires in July 2018. The money will go toward the property cost, updates and maintenance of the wolf sanctuary - with $165,000 of that has been raised so far.

While the destination of the new rescue facility is not known, Guidry said she wants a property large enough to update and expand the animals' enclosures. The current enclosures are of proper regulation size and the animals appear happy in their current homes, but Guidry believes SFWS can offer more.

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"We want better for them," she said. "They're permanent residents once they come here, so they deserve the best."

With the relocation, the animals' enclosures will be four times the size of the current ones (between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet). Guidry also wants to include flowing water features, a more wooded habitat and dens that appear more natural.

But Guidry is not wanting to move out of Montgomery County, if possible. She's hoping to raise enough money to be able to keep in sanctuary in the area.

"We have amazing relationships here with local animal control," she said. "They trust us to handle our animals and keep them healthy, so we definitely want to keep our relationships. Our vet is here, the majority of our volunteers live out here, a lot of our visitor base lives out here, and we have a lot of support from Montgomery County. So we'd love to stay, but we know that the property values are going up pretty fast."

Other counties adjacent to Montgomery County also could be an option, if acreage is available for donation or purchase at a reasonable price.

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Currently, SFWS provides a permanent home for 12 wolves and wolfdogs that are all deemed non-releasable to the wild. Guidry works with 40 other volunteers, who are committed to providing a safehaven for wolves and wolfdogs, as well as educating Montgomery County about common misconceptions.

"People think that if they get a wolfdog mix that they'll behave in a more domestic way and be a more suitable house pet, but that's just not the case most of the time," she said.

The wolf in the wolfdogs makes the animals more athletic and they require more exercise than a dog, which can cause containment issues. Guidry also said wolves do not respect humans as authority figures the way dogs do and they can be aggressive.

"It really is like having a wild animal in the home, and having a little bit of dog in there does not numb out their wild instincts," she said. "Domestication is a process that takes thousands of years over selective breeding, so putting one (a wolfdog) that's one generation removed from a pure wolf in the house, they're basically going to behave like a pure wolf."

Because of this, some of the wolves and wolfdogs at the sanctuary were surrendered by people who were unprepared for the responsibility of a wolfdog. Others were rescued from people's homes and illegal roadside attractions. Most of them endured mistreatment before arriving at SFWS, she said.

Although Guidry makes visitors aware of the risks of wolves and wolfdogs, SFWS focuses on educating visitors on the benefits of leaving wolves in the wild and encourages people to love and respect the animals.

"Most people have this fear of wolves but don't really understand why and where it came from," she said. "So when they can come here, learn more about them, get facts about wolves and find out how great they are for the ecosystem, they can see that they're not these snarling beasts that are trying to kill you through the fence, they gain a respect and appreciation for them."

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SFWS hosts frequent scheduled tours, as well as private VIP tours on request. In the future, Guidry hopes to extend SFWS's presence in Montgomery County with school outreach programs and more events to get children excited about wolf preservation.

On April 8, SFWS is hosting its third annual birthday party for the wolves as a fundraising event for the relocation. The celebration will be at the sanctuary at 2757 Saint Beulah Chapel Road, Montgomery, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The wolves and wolfdogs will be treated to a doggy-safe birthday cake and new toys and treats. Visitors can come to eat, listen to music and participate in kid-friendly games. SFWS is requesting a $10 donation per person for the event.

"You can't help but become attached to them," she said. "We fall in love with every single one. … If you don't fall in love with them, you're not doing it right."

For more information, visit www.wolvesofsaintfrancis.org or call 936-597-WOLF (9653).