News, Winter 99-00, page 1

Kasha and Shaman, the two pups from New Jersey continue to grow! It seems like everyday brings another inch and at least a pound or two.

They are constantly amazing us and everyone who has an opportunity to meet them with their intelligence and antics. Kasha at this time weighs in at approximately 95 pounds, Shaman is close to one hundred pounds and both are about 30 inches at the shoulder, Kasha is slightly taller.

Our home is no longer ours, even less than before. When we allow the pups into the house all hell breaks loose. They are just like toddlers, everything goes directly into their mouths. We must have at least three to four people to watch their every move. It is complete chaos. Kasha is famous for the "I have your chicken dinner maneuver". Frank and I spent at least ten minutes convincing him that we needed the chicken more than he did. Normally we would have traded him something he likes for what we were trying to take back but there isn't much this pup likes more than raw chicken.

Shaman is equally as good a thief. In the last few months I've heard at least 3 dozen times, various volunteers say, "I only turned my back for a second". This usually means Shaman has stolen one of the hammers, shovels, buckets, gloves, coats etc. from some poor volunteer. It can sometimes take as long as a half hour trying to recover the stolen item.

Kasha no longer goes with us on educational programs due to the stress it causes him. Kasha has a growth defect in his front ankles which caused his feet to turn outward at a rather severe angle. Thank goodness it does not seem to be causing him any physical discomfort although the vets tell us that he will be a candidate for arthritis. Kasha gets around fine and plays as hard as Shaman. We do believe he will be fine because he is in a captive situation, had he been born in the wild we doubt he would have survived.

Shaman on the other hand goes with us to just about every educational program, sometimes he does not want to go and on those days we don't force him and he stays home with Kasha. He continually steals the show and as you can tell from the title of this article people cannot believe he is only 8 months old.

Traveling with Shaman is quite the experience, he is not, and I doubt he ever will be, housebroken. We take blankets, paper towels, cleaning supplies, rubberized rugs, food, water, treats, toys and usually two handlers just for him. He is so strong that it sometimes takes two of us to hold onto him. At least we no longer have to pick him up to put him in the suburban as he has learned "load-up".

Nanook, Mesa and sometimes Sara accompany Shaman on these educational outings. People are truly amazed at seeing a "real wolf" and the difference between Shaman and the wolf-dogs. Children, when they meet Shaman, leave our programs with a sense of awe, wonder and knowing. Awe at having seen and touched this magnificent being, wonder at how people could hurt any animal or human and a knowing that these beautiful creatures belong in the wild.

Speaking of wild, the three New Mexico pups, Makoce, Tate and Peta are also growing in leaps and bounds.

All three are now as big as their adopted Mom, Whisper. They are extremely healthy and beautiful. People are amazed that they are not Whispers natural pups for they look exactly like her. Whisper is very protective of them. All three still remain totally wild and will come no closer to humans than 10 to 15 feet.

We continually try to socialize them, hoping that someday they will allow us to touch them although this seems unlikely. Still they are very curious about us two-leggeds and may someday give us the gift of a lick.

Living with Kasha, Shaman and all of the residents of Wolf has been both rewarding and frustrating. As I sit here typing this I realize that they are the joy in my life and that they have just chewed through the cable for our TV dish. We will keep you posted on the lives and times of Shaman, Kasha, Makoce, Tate and Peta.