Kenai

sex: male
born: 29 April 1996
birth place: Alaska

deceased: 09 December 2008

given sanctuary: 01 August 1996

 

 

Kenai's Memorial
see Newsletter - Winter 08-09 (click)

Kenai's Story

Kenai’s story begins in Alaska, where he was born. Kenai’s mother is a pure MacKenzie Valley wolf, and his father is approximately 87% Timber wolf. Unfortunately, Kenai was born in a wolf breeding facility. The people who owned the facility were more interested in making money than the well being of the animals that lived there. These people advertised:“come see the kissing wolves of Alaska”, when, in actuality, they were selling puppies. An unsuspecting couple from Fort Collins, Colorado, was on vacation in Alaska, when they decided to take this tour to see the kissing wolves. Kenai’s life changed drastically at that point.

The young couple enjoyed the tour and became fascinated with the animals. Making the same mistake so many others make, they purchased Kenai without investigating what owning a wolf-dog really entailed. They paid $650.00 for Kenai, paid for his vet examination, and paid for his flight home to Colorado, all in all totaling well over $1,200.00. Kenai was approximately 4 ½ months old at the time.

Unfortunately, this couple did not know, and were not told by the breeder, that wolves have what we call a “genetic switch” that flips into the off position at approximately 3 months. This switch, in the wild, protects the pups from being harmed by unknown animals, such as grizzly bears. Basically by the time pups are 3 months old, they have already been introduced to their pack and surroundings, so that when they travel with the pack, they are to avoid and be afraid of new animals or, in Kenai’s case, new people.

Being what he was, Kenai was terrified of his new owners and his new home. He suffered from severe trauma, exhibited with diarrhea, and would hide when approached. He was unable to bond with his new family. As is the case with many wolf-dogs, Kenai’s family became very frustrated and, in this case, did so very quickly. This was not the warm, cuddly puppy they wanted and, after just 6 days, Kenai was turned over to the Wolf Sanctuary.

During the next nine weeks, Kenai would run to the farthest corner of his enclosure and have diarrhea if anyone even looked at him. Shortly after Kenai arrived, a 7-month-old female named Samantha arrived at the facility, and they were placed in the same enclosure. Kenai and Sami bonded very quickly, and Sami helped Kenai accept his new home. For the next 11 months, volunteers did everything they could to help Kenai adjust to living at the facility, including sleeping with him in his doghouse. Slowly, over that time period, he grew in confidence and assurance that he would not be uprooted again.

In February of 1999, a young male named Lakota was also introduced into Kenai’s enclosure. Lakota is a very exuberant, undisciplined animal, who keeps Kenai and Sami both on their toes. We are happy to report that they still live together at Wolf. Kenai did adjust to his second new family, and is one of the favorites of all of those who visit the Wolf Sanctuary.

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