Parksville wolf dog attack!
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Oct. 20, 2023
Vaughan Roberts, a Parksville resident, found himself in an unexpected and concerning situation while walking his dog, Rupert, in a popular area near Parksville last month.
He described the encounter as bewildering and intimidating, as it involved an encounter with a wolf dog that weighed an estimated 150 pounds. This type of incident is unusual on their side of Vancouver Island.
The first encounter with the abandoned hybrid` took place on September 7, 2023 when Roberts stumbled upon the wolf dog in a field off Springhill Road. Initially, he thought it might be a chance encounter. However, a week later, the same wolf dog reportedly chased after Rupert. Roberts had to throw rocks and scream to deter the animal from approaching. He expressed his surprise at the wolf dog's persistence, stating that it stalked them all the way to the road.
One of the dogs involved in the altercation had raised its hackles upon seeing the wolf dog approach, and the wolf-dog apparently took that as a threat and lunged forward in an aggressive defense.
Later, Roberts discovered that another resident he knew had seen the animal being released into the nearby woods in the Errington area, which left him puzzled and disappointed.
Colleen Rowe, an experienced wolf dog rescuer, expressed concerns about the wolf dog's situation, especially considering it had already attacked two dogs. She believed that the animal had been abandoned by its owner, a horrid fate all too often forced upon these mixed up creatures.
Rowe hopes to capture and rehabilitate the wolf dog, emphasizing that wolf dog hybrids are often misunderstood. Many people adopt wolf dogs with certain expectations, only to realize that owning them is vastly different from having a regular dog. This misconception often leads to surrenders and, regrettably, euthanizations. Rowe advocates for ceasing wolf-dog hybrid breeding altogether.
Because wolf dog hybrids are not considered wild animals, British Columbia conservation officers will not attempt to trap it. It falls to the Coastal Animal Services to pick up the animal. They are currently assessing the area to determine the best locations for setting up cages. Rowe aims to reach the animal first to ensure its safe capture and protect other animals in the area.
Warning signs have been posted in the Springhill Road area, where dog owners continue to walk their pets despite the wolf dog’s presence. Dog owners are urged to keep their animals close to them while efforts continue to safely trap and remove the abandoned wolf dog.
The Dire Wolf Project is completely against wolf dog breeding. The horrors of wolf dog ownership result in up to 95% of wolf dogs being euthanized by the time they are two years old. Wolf dog rescues and sanctuaries are full and many have waiting lists years long.
This is NOT how we should treat such majestic creatures.
The Dire Wolf Project supports two wolf rescues: WolfWood Rescue in Ignacio, Colorado and Cat Tales Wildlife Center in Spokane, WA.
We established a second YouTube Channel devoted solely to sharing wolf dog news. You can see the beautiful, but confused abandoned Parksville wolf dog by clicking the following link:
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Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.