Earlier this year, an adoptable wolf hybrid made the news when the Potter League for Animals, a Rhode Island shelter, began searching for his forever home. Despite Zeus’s charm and good looks, this wasn’t an easy task. Why? It’s actually illegal to own a wolf hybrid in RI, along with many surrounding states. Thankfully, Zeus has earned his happy ending.
The complicated case of dog-wolf hybrids
Zeus had to look a little far to find his forever home – he’s going to reside with a man named Ron in Vermont, where ownership of a wolf hybrid is legal. It’s still unclear just how much wolf Zeus is, though the shelter promises to share an update. “Thank you to everyone who shared Zeus far and wide! We are truly humbled and moved by the support and the love everyone showed Zeus the last few weeks,” the shelter said. “And we promise once the DNA comes back, we will let you all know the results.”
What’s the big fuss about wolf hybrids?
For some, the legality issues surrounding wolf hybrids comes as a surprise. After all, before dogs, wolves were our companions. But wolves and dogs have huge behavioral differences. Wolves are not domesticated, which can make them wary, unpredictable, and independent. Combining these traits with a dog’s personality can make for a very energetic, intelligent pet that’s potentially dangerous without a well-informed caretaker. That’s why it’s largely best to keep wolf hybrids out of our homes.
