Since our last newsletter, there has been a tremendous amount of news to report. This winter has been one of the most challenging quarters we have ever experienced. Those challenges have run the gamut from weather related issues to animal health concerns to decisions on saving additional wolves to regulatory agency changes to federal proposals on the de-listing of wolves from the endangered species list. Although some of this information has been reported through E-News Alerts and Updates, we will recount the entire season as best we can. If you would like to sign up for periodic E-News Bulletins from Wolf, please send your request to: fwendland@wolfsanctuary.net.

We will have to start with events that actually occurred somewhat before winter started in order to make sure we pick up where the last newsletter left off.

21 November, Tuesday - Ashley Passes - Œ
(see - Memories of Ashley & Jasmine)

22 November, Wednesday
- Webster Joins Menemith
Shortly after Menemith was moved to a new enclosure at the Sanctuary, which was set-up with a heated dog house (see Fall Newsletter), Webster was moved from WideAwake to be with her. Ever since she was removed from WideAwake to have her broken leg repaired, he was howling a very lonesome song. Likewise Menemith, although getting better after leg surgery and much happier in her new location, was singing a similar tune.

The two of them are now doing great. Every morning they sing a much different song, with yips and howls that are much more normal and suggestive of enjoyment and deliberate communication to the rest of the wolves at the Sanctuary. It is wonderful to have their happy voices added to rest of the choir.

23 November, Thursday - Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, at the Sanctuary, has become a traditional event for Wolf volunteers who are unable to get home for the holiday or find themselves without a venue in which to celebrate. Although there was a somewhat somber tone to our Thanksgiving Celebration this year, because of Ashley’s passing, Isabeau and Shaman provided some much needed entertainment. A donated turkey weighing in at 40 lbs. became the center-piece and focus of their frolic. Shaman decided that the entire turkey belonged to him and Isabeau would have to wait a long time for her share.

October and November ended with reasonable and normal levels of snowfall. October was somewhere around 20” and November with about 14” at the Sanctuary. We were ecstatic about the moisture being received as we had been in a drought for the last four to five years. WideAwake received approximately 34” in October and about 21” in November. There was no indication of what was going to occur once winter really started.

01 December, Friday
- C.C. Exhibits Neuropathy - Ž
C.C. had been with the Wendland’s before they started the Sanctuary. She was a dog, but a very special dog and indeed considered herself ‘The House Dog’. She had adopted the Wendland’s when she was estimated to be about a year old. She was getting on in age now and was starting to have trouble controlling her left rear leg. She needed special care to get up and down the steps to the house.

04 December, Monday
- Sanctuary Exams -
We began our periodic general exams, blood tests and vaccinations for the wolves at the Sanctuary. Although the darting and tranquilizing exercise is potentially very dangerous and definitely very stressful for both 4-leggeds and 2-leggeds alike, it went off with only one hitch. Matoskah would not go down. Wolves vary widely in their adrenaline response to the tranquilizer and indeed the more unsocial with humans an animal is, the more difficult it is to get them tranquilized. Five other individuals were treated that day and four the following day without incident. We will need to set up additional days to get all of the individuals treated.

06 December, Wednesday
- C.C. Stops Walking - 
After progressively getting worse with her rear legs and being examined by our vet, C.C. finally was unable to get herself up from a lying position altogether. She also could not walk for more than a step or two, before falling over. She however, did not seem at all ready to depart. She was still full of spunk and very bossy about having you bring her food and water. So, the wheel barrow brigade began. She would yell at you to take her outside and you would dutifully lift up her back-end and assist her out. She would yell to come back in and you again would rush to wheel barrow her back to her specially prepared bed in the living room. She would yell at you when it was time to move her into the bedroom at night where there was another specially prepared bed set up. We think she actually was enjoying ordering all of the humans around. So, as long as she was good with this, we would continue to accommodate.

It was not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish and everyone’s back was beginning to feel it. Frank even ended up having to go to town for an adjustment, after wrenching his back while wheelbarrowing.