Wolf Stories, Miska

Miska’s story, as we know it, begins somewhere outside of Sacramento California. The Yolo County Sheriff’s department had broken up an illegal homeless camp and three canines had been left behind. The other two being domestic breeds, but Miska, unfortunately for her sake, was a wolf-dog. Miska’s origins are still a mystery, no one knows if she was born in the homeless camp or acquired by some other means, what her mix or lineage is, or where on earth her wild hair came from. None the less, she was a wolf-dog without a known owner at the Yolo County Animal Shelter. Like most shelters in the US, the Yolo County facility will not adopt out a wolfdog to the general public. Fate stepped in on Miska’s behalf, Vicky Fletcher, an animal control officer with Yolo County, met the young wolf-dog, estimated at somewhere between nine months and one year old at the time, and learned of her fate.

Miska coerced Vicky with her shy but affectionate personality, and willingness to bond with almost anyone who showed her a gentle hand. This was not an animal who deserved to be put down for simply being what she was, a wolf-dog, and Vicky went out of her way to find a means to save Miska. Vicky contacted Wolf about Miska’s plight and we began looking for a foster home. It so happened that one of our volunteers was looking for a rescue animal to be a companion for a lonely Alaskan Malamute.

Plans were made for transport on the weekend of October 27th, but complications came up for Vicky and we had to reschedule. In the mean time, Vicky got the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to spay Miska at no charge. Plans were made once again and early on the 2nd of November, Steven Wolfsong and Di Campolong, left Colorado to meet Vicky in Sparks Nevada. The drive went smoothly and they were met by a scared wolf-dog who just wanted to be loved.

Miska cuddled her way back to Colorado in the front seat of the truck the entire way and was given her name on the trip back. She was introduced to her new Alaskan Malamute companion and they hit it off immediately, playing constantly for the next several weeks. Miska established herself as being in charge, well most of the time at least, unless she really pushes her much larger male companion around too much. Miska is happy and healthy in her permanent foster home and has declared herself the legal owner of all tennis balls in her domain.