Wolfdog ownership is reportedly on the rise, but wolf conservationists warn of the potentially unintended consequences of hybridization.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Demand for wolf hybrids is surging, and so are concerns among conservationists
0:04
They warn the phenomenon not only threatens the lives of wolves, but humans as well
0:11
National Geographic reports some wolfdog breeders have seen demands for the breeds
0:16
go from hundreds of requests to thousands in a relatively short period of time
0:20
As demand has risen, so has the black market. More than 200 illegally mixed hybrids were seized in 2017 by Italian authorities
0:29
reportedly smuggled in from North America, Scandinavia, and the Balkans. The legality of owning a wolf dog in Italy is nuanced
0:37
Wolf dogs' DNA must be put into a national registry, and international rules mean they must be of at least the fourth generation to be kept as pets
0:46
In the U.S., laws vary from state to state. In some states, it's legal to own a hybrid without a permit
0:51
while in others, a permit is required. Ownership is banned altogether in multiple states
0:57
Wolf dog ownership has sometimes turned deadly, like in the case of a 74-year-old Italian woman who was killed by her daughter's five wolf dogs while caring for them in a two-bedroom apartment
1:07
There have also been more than 20 documented cases of deadly wolf dog attacks in the U.S. between 1978 and 2023
1:15
Wolf conservationists also say many wolf hybrids end up abandoned because owners aren't prepared for the tall task of caring for them
1:22
They note they require big areas to roam around and do not take kindly to being kept in a house
1:28
There are reportedly more than half a million wolf hybrids in the U.S. Reputable breeders of wolf dogs say the animals are safe if bred and trained right
1:38
Conservationists argue the practice not only is dangerous, but harms wolf rehabilitation efforts globally
1:43
and warn many wild wolves are at risk of capture as part of illegal hybrid breeding efforts
1:49
For more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
#news
#Social Issues & Advocacy
#Pets & Animals
#Wildlife


