don@allegra.UUCP (D. Mitchell) (02/06/84)
Does anyone know if it is legal to raise a timber wolf cub as a pet? Do they get nasty when they are older or are they more or less dog-like when raised around people and treated like a pet? One might assume that their personality would be similar to a Malamute which has a lot of wolf blood.
pellegri@ittral.UUCP (Dan Pellegrino) (02/07/84)
I am certainly not an expert on the subject but I do recall reading an article
in a newspaper that dealt with the subject of wolves as pets. It stated that
the domestication of modern day dogs has been a very gradual process involving
selective breeding to retain desirable characteristics and omit undesireable
traits. It implied that its not a matter of training the individual animal as
much as it is 'breeding out' certain natural instincts. A wild (undomesticated)
wolf may be very closely related to a dog but it may have much stronger hunting,
freedom and protective instincts that may make a cudly little wolf pup grow up
to be quite dangerous despite its familiarity and relationship with the humans
and other beings that may live with it for years. The ancestors to modern dogs
no doubt had the same degree of instinctiveness that made them dangerous too.
For the record, I have also seen television programs (at least one, anyway) that
showed people who kept and cared for a whole pack of wolves because of thier
endangered status. Although they kept them penned, they went inside the pen
often to feed the wolves and 'mingle' among them. They said that they had no
problems and no fear although they did have a few run-ins early on in the
wolves' captivity.
I think that wolves are beautiful and often misunderstood animals. I would love
to have one or even several as pets. However, I do believe that there is too
much risk involved, especially if there are children in the family.
Another consideration is the law. Many or most governments (state, local,
whatever) do not permit wolves and many other animals to be kept as pets. You
may want to check with the local authorities.
Dan Pellegrino
ittvax!ittral!pellegri