For individuals to own wild and exotic animals as personal pets, they must be legally qualified to do so. F.S. 372.921 & .922; F.A.C. 39-600. Persons cannot possess Class I Wildlife as personal pets. Class I Wildlife, which covers some 22 species, such as your large primates like chimpanzees, gorillas, baboons, big cats like lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars, as well as other animals and reptiles like cape buffaloes, elephants and crocodiles. For further details see F.A.C. 39-6002.

Broward County Animal Specialist I, J. Woolsey with the wolf/hybrid name "Poite"

Persons can have Class II Wildlife as personal pets if they qualify. Class II covers some 42 animals, such as bobcats, cougars, gray wolves, and alligators. For further details see F.A.C. 39-6002.

To qualify you must have a permit from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Commission. The qualifying criteria for a permit are as follows:

1. Submit a notarized statement, stating that construction of the facility, its cages and enclosures, is not prohibited by county ordinance and, if within a municipality, is not prohibited a municipal ordinance. (Note: there are varying regulations governing the size and type of cage or enclosure depending on what type of animal that will be housed there.)

2. Applicants shall demonstrate no less than one year of substantial practical experience (to consist of no less than 1,000 hours) in the care, feeding, handling and husbandry of the species for which the permit is sought, or other species, within the same biological family (except ratites which shall be in the same biological sub-order) which are substantially similar in size, characteristics, care and nutritional requirements to the species for which the permit is sought. (This requirement shall not apply to applicants for permits to possess ostriches when possessed for propagation and not for public exhibition.)

3. Shall not have been convicted of a violation of captive wildlife regulations for three years prior to application for such permit.

Having a wolf or wolf/hybrid as a pet:

As mentioned earlier a wolf is a Class II Wild Animal. A wolf/hybrid is part-wolf and part-dog. The Alaskan Malamute, the Siberian Husky, and the German Shepherd are the more commonly used dogs that are bred with the wolf. If the wolf/hybrid is 75% or more part-wolf then it falls within the Class II Wildlife classification.

If you know the wolf/hybrid's lineage, then calculating the percentage of wolf that it has is simple: just divide the wolf percentage of each parent by 2 then add them together. For example:

a. parent (100% wolf) + parent (100% dog) = 50% wolf offspring

b. parent (50% wolf) + parent (100% wolf) = 75% wolf offspring

Why you should not have a wolf or wolf/hybrid as a pet:

1. Unless your backyard is 5 square miles, the wolf will feel cramped, and even a 5 mile enclosure could seem small to the wolf. Florida as I see it, is mostly condos and postage stamp lots, so I hardly think there will be many individuals who can afford 5 square mile lots. The wolf would likely escape from your backyard and hunt. Although wild wolves seldom hunt livestock when game is plentiful, a wolf in a suburban setting would have no choice but to go after livestock and domesticated dogs and cats. The wolf owner would be sued and the wolf would be destroyed. Another concern is if a wolf/hybrid escapes, it would weaken the genetics of the wild wolf if it should take up with a wild pack of wolves. Since there are no wild wolf packs in Florida, this is not a concern. The Gray Wolf, unlike French Canadians, enjoys the wintry northern climate because that is his natural habitat, not hot and humid south Florida. Keeping a Gray Wolf in South Florida would be cruel.

2. The wolf has pack instincts-even cubs raised by humans. Wolves and domesticated dogs should not be together because the domesticated dog does not understand the pack mentality and would not likely survive in such an environment.

3. Wolves are not pets nor are they guard dogs. Wolves are instinctually shy around humans because we are perceived as the enemy and so they will hide away from humans. The wolf may form a bond with its feeder and protector, but no one else. This bond will not be the same affectionate bond that one would enjoy with a domesticated dog.

4. Veterinarians generally will not treat a wolf.

5. The Humane Society will not take on an unwanted wolf or wolf/hybrid for adoption. Although some zoos will take an unwanted wolf, it will not take a wolf/hybrid.

6. The wolf/hybrid can be more aggressive than a pure wolf, according to Robert Busch author of The Wolf Almanac, because now you have a wild predator and a domesticated dog that has lost its fear of man. Busch goes on to say that several vicious attacks on humans have been documented, including six deaths. However, there are no documented reports of a healthy wolf killing a human in recorded American history.

7. For all the reasons above, having a wolf or wolf/hybrid as a pet will do more harm to the wolf species, because people will wrongly accuse the species for the ill consequences of humans trying to domesticate the wolf. Millions of wolves were murdered in the United States because they were ignorantly feared and blamed for people's problems. The wolf has become nearly extinct in America. It's been only recently that the wolf's image and perception have been shown in a truer, positive light. Kevin Costner's movie "Dances with Wolves" ignited the positive interest in the wolf. Wildlife documentaries on television soon followed, covering the life of the wolf. Let's not retreat and tarnish the positive momentum that the wolf is finally starting to enjoy. Put wolves on your T-shirts and coffee cups and not in your back yard.

Federal Judge gives the Yellowstone Wolves a Death Blow:

A Wyoming Federal Judge ruled that the 150 wolves that were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, in an effort to restore the species back into their homeland, must be removed. The wolves were reintroduced under the Endangered Species Act as "experimental nonessential" population.

Since the reintroduction, a few naturally occurring wolves have been sighted wandering into the reintroduction area. The Judge ruled that to preserve the protection of the naturally entered wolves, the reintroduced wolves must be eliminated. Canada does not want the reintroduced wolves back so they must be killed. I compare the reintroduction wolves to affirmative action, that is, correcting past wrongs. Destroying these beautiful intelligent animals would be a new wrong. The National Wildlife Federation, which has devoted more than a decade of effort to bring the gray wolf back to Yellowstone, will appeal Judge Downes' decision.

The issue of whether the reintroduced wolves had the right to be in Yellowstone was instigated by the Farm Bureau, which no doubt will later argue that the naturally occurring wolves have no right to be there either. I guess the Farm Bureau forgot that the wolves and other animals were naturally at Yellowstone as well as the rest of the North America, while their ancestors were farming back in Europe. So maybe the Farm Bureau can be removed too; since it follows the same logic that the Judge undertook in making his decision and he can declare the Farm Bureau as an "experimental nonessential" population.

Local News:

In November, a Broward County Animal Care Rescue driver found a wolf/hybrid wandering about. Animal Care fed and medically treated this beautiful animal that was malnourished when she was found. If a proper home were not found for her, she would be euthanized. I happened to remember a wolf and wolf/hybrid rescue in New Hampshire and they agreed to take her. The new problem now was how to get her up there. Tony Thompson of Broward Animal Care and his wife Stacy were instrumental in coordinating this rescue effort. Pan Am Airlines flew the wolf/dog to Boston for free in the large cage that the Thompsons donated. The folks from the Loki Clan Wolf Refuge greeted her and drove her 6 hours back to Conway, New Hampshire. A great and happy ending was made due to the efforts of many people.

If anyone cares to donate money to the Loki Clan Wolf Refuge, you can write them at Box #1186, Conway, New Hampshire 03818. Become a member with your donations and you will receive newsletters about the wolves including our South Florida wolf/hybrid.

Thanks to Jeff and Barbara Harrod of Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary & Wildcare Center: who supplied me with the materials regarding laws and permits for wildlife pet ownership. The Harrods are hard working people who take care of all types of wildlife, native and nonnative, like the Florida Panther and the Siberian Tiger. The main center is in Fort Myers, but the South Florida center is right here in Broward County. Please give them a call at (954) 961-6500 for more information about their work. Their mailing address is Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary & Wildcare Center, 320 South Flamingo Road, Suite 224, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33027.

Author Steven M. Logan is a lawyer and former prosecutor in Broward County. Born in Rochester, New York 1957. J.D. California Western School of Law, San Diego, Ca. 1983. B.S. New Hampshire College, 1979. His practice is Criminal Law, Divorce Law, General Civil Practice and Animal Rights. Call him at 954 522 3902.