Contrary to erroneous views held by some wolf hybrid organizations as well as hybrid owners, our foundation does not oppose ownership of these animals. As our policy posted on our web site (http://www.wolfpark.org) shows, we are for the responsible ownership of these animals. In a nutshell, this means that we believe wolves should be kept with other wolves in large, secure enclosures to protect the animals as well as people - especially children - and fed appropriate food, and that suitable provisions for the future of the animals should be made in case of the owner's death or illness.

     Many people think that if you raise wolves or wolf x dog hybrids as dogs, they will behave like dogs. Much is made of the so-called percentage of wolf vs. dog genes in an individual animal. The more an animal looks like a wolf, they say, the more it will behave like a wolf - whatever that means.

     From the point of view of safety for the general public, as well as the owners, social aggression in hybrids tends to be less of a problem than one would think. An animal may challenge and even bite an owner or familiar person, but the consequences are rarely serious. Predatory behavior is another matter. A socially friendly animal - and pet wolves and wolf x dog hybrids are generally friendly if properly socialized to humans - may nevertheless launch a predatory attack under certain circumstances. If a person runs away, trips or falls, struggles, cries or screams, such behavior is similar to that of prey, and is very likely to result in a predatory attack. Since children are small, they are less intimidating to a wolf or hybrid, and the chance of an attack is increased. Couple this with the propensity - primarily of small boys - to tease such animals if they are behind a fence or on a chain, and the stage is set for disaster. Many children have been attacked. The lucky ones escaped with injuries. Many have died. All these deaths were avoidable. While it is true that the same comments apply to many dogs - who are considered to be the same species - the probability that a pet wolf or hybrid will attack a child is much greater.

     Whenever such an attack occurs, it is often national news. A concerned public cries out for laws to outlaw such animals, while the hybrid owners rise up to defend the keeping of these animals - pointing out how friendly they are. Parents are accused of poor supervision - not of the animals, but of the children who are the victims of such attacks. In many instances the owners have been warned beforehand, but such warnings are usually dismissed or ignored. When a child is dead or disfigured for life, one hears: "Gee, I am sorry; I did not know; the animal has never done that before; it is so friendly; it loves children; it is afraid of people; etc." The list of excuses is endless.

     There are many responsible hybrid owners who have secure enclosures, have people to help care for the animals, and who inform themselves of the dangers. Unfortunately, we never hear much from them. When legislation to control hybrids is introduced, it is responsible owners who would suffer if the legislation were to become law. There is no mechanism in place by which the hybrid-owning community can police itself - even if it were willing. Legislation across the country varies - and there are places where there is no control, like Indiana. Furthermore, many people are still preoccupied with the percentage of wolf vs dog in an individual animal. No hard data is available, but people who have seen many wolves, hybrids and dogs generally agree that the physical appearance of an animal is not linked necessarily with readiness to attack a potential prey. In other words, a very dog-like hybrid might attack as readily as a pet wolf.

     Years ago we at Wolf Park decided to do something about this problem. We decided that education was the best way to go. We hope that the information we have disseminated in our seminars and publications has saved some lives. We will never know.

     Monty Sloan, our staff photographer, can be considered a hybrid "expert". He knows wolves well, and has probably seen and photographed more wolves and hybrids than anyone in the world. He has talked to countless owners, seen their facilities, and lectured across the country on wolf x dog hybrids. Monty's style of lecturing is very low key and no one gets upset with Monty.

     In Michigan, Beth Duman, a biology teacher, who lectures on wolves and the need to preserve them in the wild, has represented Wolf Park for many years. Beth has been a strong advocate for legislation to control these animals, as are all of us at Wolf Park. We are for responsible ownership of these animals, taking their unique characteristics into account.

     In her endeavor to warn people of the potential danger which these animals pose, and to safeguard the animals as well, Beth made some unfortunate remarks some years ago at the AVMA meeting in Los Angeles. These remarks were in jest but were misunderstood by those who were not present but merely read the transcripts. This what the hybrid owners and some of their associations seize upon to discredit her. Beth has since apologized for her remarks on numerous occasions, yet the virulent attacks, misrepresentations of her position, and outright distortions continue to surface from time to time. We have received phone calls, letters and e-mails demanding that Wolf Park fire her.

      Instead of attacking Beth, her critics should care about the safety of the children that are endangered by hybrids kept "as if they were dogs". Beth Duman is passionate about the protection of wolves in the wild. Beth learned the hard way about the danger a pet wolf can pose: she had one herself, but gave it to Wolf Park when the animal bit her husband. Beth has our full support for her educational work in Michigan. We receive many letters and calls praising her efforts. She deserves the support of everyone who cares about wolves, hybrids and the safety of children. Sooner or later an animal gets out and does damage. Guess who pays the price? The animal who should not have been in a position to chase or attack a child.

     Just a few weeks ago, I testified in a case involving a hybrid attack on a small boy in Texas. After my testimony, the case was settled out of court. The animal got out of a wooden enclosure from which it had escaped once before. The owner was told by the breeder - whom I know personally, and who has since given up raising hybrids because people would not listen to him - how to care for the hybrid. The owner pleaded ignorance of the danger this animal posed. In his opinion, it "loved children". He knew better.

     So, guess what? A third child - a four year old boy - was killed on August 21 by a hybrid in Michigan. It was the hybrid owner's child. The child was unattended for just a few minutes. The animal was in the backyard on a chain. The boy had apparently been choked to death and bitten through the trachea. It was identified as a hybrid by the owner. I saw a photo of it, and while I could see some "wolf characteristics" it looked mostly like a dog to me. Beth Duman also had that impression.

     Who paid the price for human ignorance? The innocent boy who is dead, and the animal who couldn't help his nature and had no business being where he was in the first place - and who was killed for his deed. Yet hybrid lovers choose to attack Beth Duman as if she were responsible for the animal getting killed. In fact, it was the father who had it killed. Hybrid breeders and owners should take care of the own, not attack those who have warned for years of the dangers.

     Since legislation is spotty across the nation, I think insurance companies should exclude coverage for hybrids in their homeowner's policies - UNLESS they are kept properly. We would be happy to provide them with standards which were worked out some years ago at a seminar held at Wolf Park. Participants included hybrid breeders, owners, wolf researchers, a veterinarian and our Regional USDA inspector. We forwarded these recommendations to the State of Michigan when they were considering a law controlling hybrids. To this day no such law exists in Michigan. Why not? That is another story. How many more children have to die in Michigan? Is three not more than enough?

     Wolf Park staff, visiting students, and scholars do behavior research at the Park. We share our information with the general public through lectures at the park and elsewhere. We also hold wolf and wolf x dog behavior seminars, offer internships, ethology practica and volunteer opportunities. Our aim is to inform people - especially school children - about wolves, wolf x dog hybrids, and wildlife conservation. Although we have no objective measure of the success of our educational efforts, the fact that former visiting students, who are now teachers and parents, bring their own children and students to the park shows that their early experiences had a lasting effect on them. We like to think that as voters, when wildlife issues are up for a vote, they will support candidates and policies of benefit to the environment in general, and wolves in particular.