OUR SANCTUARY RESIDENTS
To Support the pack, becoming a Sponsor goes a long way in helping them thrive. Read their stories below and see just how special they are.
Learn about all of the personalities that make Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary special. Meet the Wolves and Wolfdogs of Saint Francis and learn more about wolf facts, care, and what life is like as a Wolf or Wolfdog.
ALEX
WOLFDOG | BORN: 2012 | RESCUED: AUGUST 2017 COMPANION: RAKSHA
Alex is a quiet soul who likes to spend a lot of his time observing the world around him. Nothing happens at the sanctuary without Alex’s watchful eye! He loves lounging in his water tubs, taking long soaks on hot days, and digging a new bed to sleep in every day. Alex prides himself in his sandy colored fur, a look that takes after the wolf side of this wolfdog!
Although Alex likes his quiet, that doesn’t mean he can’t get boisterous! He loves to run and pounce with his companion Raksha, always up to pester his neighbors. He is shy around strangers, but his gentle personality shines through with people he trusts. Everyone who meets Alex can’t help but admire his deep, gentle gaze!
Alex is a gorgeous, gentle boy who loves peaceful days and lounging in sun. He spends his days showing us that patience is a virtue, and love is a blessing.
CALYPSO
WOLFDOG | BORN: 2013 | RESCUED: MAY 2016 COMPANION: ROMULUS
When Calypso first arrived to the sanctuary, she carried a lot of anxiety and fear which caused her to react in unexpected ways. While wolfdogs are naturally unpredictable because of their conflicting instincts, trauma can magnify this even further! Unfortunately, many residents at Saint Francis bring with them stories that color their view of the world; it is our goal to help turn that view brighter!
Calypso got a fresh start at Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary, where we have worked hand-in-paw with her to help strengthen her confidence and let her know she will never go hungry again. It has taken years of building trust and relationship, but today Calypso is all smiles and tail wags. She’s made the sanctuary her home alongside Romulus, an old boy with a big heart, and it’s not uncommon to see them snuggled up together. In fact, they are the Romeo and Juliet of the pack!
Calypso may have had a tumultuous start, but here in a sanctuary setting she thrives and has learned to find the love and joy in every day!
KAYA
WOLFDOG | BORN: 2017 | RESCUED: DECEMBER 2017 COMPANION: MEEKO
Kaya has earned the nickname “Sunshine Girl” around the sanctuary thanks to her unbeatable smile! She’s a perfect match for Meeko with her equally happy spirit. She is always finding new ways to strut her stuff and make new friends. Although she arrived with a gruesome injury, Kaya made a full recovery and spreads her sunshine every day!
Kaya is a wolfdog with a lot of husky in her—mixed with the athleticism of a wolf, Kaya hardly ever sits still! This sort of energy is one of the many reasons wolfdogs are not pets, as it often turns into destructive behavior. Luckily, the plethora of enrichment at the sanctuary gives Kaya plenty of outlets to run, jump, shred, and destroy in a much more productive manner!
No one has a happier smile than miss Kaya, which is a true testament to her perseverance, resilience, and spirit!
KOA
WOLF | BORN: 2017 | RESCUED: NOVEMBER 2020 COMPANION: MCQUADE
Koa started out with a lot of anxiety— she had a fear of small spaces, little experience with humans, and a fear of going hungry! She captured our hearts right away with her sweet face and big heart, and we are so proud of how far she’s come. She turned from a timid little lady to one of our superstars! While wolves like Koa are naturally cautious, she has really found her niche!
Koa has created strong bonds with her keepers, and has found a steadfast companion in McQuade, a young and boisterous wolf! He has taught her lots about how to let loose and be a puppy again, and she has taught him a little about respect! The two of them make an adorable pair and look forward to many happy years.
Koa is a little girl with a big spirit, who howls in the face of adversity! We can all take a lesson from her strength.
LAPUA
WOLF | BORN: 2014 | RESCUED: OCTOBER 2014 COMPANION: RAJAH
Lapua is our cleverest resident here at the sanctuary! She is always finding new ways to cause mischief, solve enrichment, and make her keepers laugh! Beautiful Lapua is a full blood tundra gray wolf and has lived at the sanctuary since she was less than a year old. Tundra wolves are a subspecies of gray wolf native to one of the coldest biomes in the world!
Lapua was socialized at a young age before her life here at the sanctuary, and she is often one of the first out to greet a tour. Despite this, she maintains her wolfy skepticism and is always ready to head back into her den at a moment’s notice, and always explores the world with her mouth! She is a perfect example of how wolves cannot be domesticated!
All in all, Lapua is a pup at heart and is always up for a romp with her companion Rajah! She teaches us how to stay young at heart every day with her antics and spirit!
MCQUADE
WOLF | BORN: 2019 | RESCUED: DECEMBER 2019 COMPANION: KOA
McQuade is one of our most striking wolves! He is a black phase wolf like some of our others, but because he is still young, he still has dark fur that is just starting to show his patterns! McQuade is quite a character; he arrived to the sanctuary as a young puppy, and has never quite grown out of that spirit!
As all wolves do, McQuade grew quickly and was a rowdy pup—not at all like a housepet! He loves to dig, crush bones, and can jump over eight feet! He is now our biggest resident, standing around 6 feet tall on his back legs and weighing 100 pounds! He thrives in the outdoor enclosures here at the sanctuary with plenty of room to run and jump with his companion Koa.
McQuade earned his name from the one and only Texas icon, Chuck Norris! The actor and martial artist helped welcome us to his neck of the wolves by bestowing his character’s namesake on the impressive McQuade!
MEEKO
WOLFDOG | BORN: 2015 | RESCUED: NOVEMBER 2015 COMPANION: KAYA
The Algonquin name “Meeko” means “little mischief” and boy does that suit Meeko! Nothing can stop the smile on his face as Meeko keeps all our days lively. He is one of the biggest charmers of the pack, and boy does he know it! With his companion Kaya, they are all smiles. He is quick and clever, like most wolfdogs!
Meeko is a wolfdog, where part of him is a breed of black dog and the other is a black-phase gray wolf. This makes Meeko extra unique, as black-phase gray wolves start out as pitch black puppies and turn more and more gray as they get older. Mixing that with his black dog heritage, he has a very interesting coat, mostly black with a lighter cape! Gorgeous Meeko!
Meeko was named after the raccoon from Pocahontas and with his mischievous spirit and silly antics, he certainly lives up to his namesake! He values time spent with his companion, knowing there’s strength in relationship.
RAJAH
WOLFDOG | BORN: 2013 | RESCUED: MARCH 2015 COMPANION: LAPUA
Rajah’s name means “king” or “prince,” and boy does he live up to that descriptor! Rajah can often be found lounging on his raised platforms with his paws crossed, looking out across his “kingdom”. No one is more majestic than the beautiful Rajah! His favorite activities include sleeping in the sunshine, watching Lapua play, and occasionally engaging in games of tag.
Although wolfdog Rajah loves to laze about, he can really move when he wants to! Once he’s off his platform, Rajah becomes a star athlete—fast and strong! He can easily keep pace with Lapua, and when the two of them get to playing, it’s always a wild time. Rajah is a prime example of how wolfdogs maintain many wolf traits such as power and agility.
Rajah is always happy to show off his gorgeous fur and pose for visitors. If Rajah had his way, he would teach the world about inner peace and balance—how to take time for yourself!
RAKSHA
WOLF | BORN: 2016 | RESCUED: MARCH 2018 COMPANION: ALEX
Raksha and her sister Ryu earned the nickname “Shadow Sisters” early on in their journey, and she still lives up to that name! Not only does her gorgeous silver coat blend right into the shadows, she knows how to make herself still and quiet to watch the world on her own time. This is because wolves have a natural fear of new or unusual things, called neophobia, including people, sights, and smells! You may go through a whole tour and not realize Raksha has had her eye on you the whole time!
While she spends the heat of the day staying cool in the shadows, Raksha knows how to network. She has a loud personality that’s known by the whole pack! Raksha and Ryu are black phase gray wolves, which means when they were born as black puppies and every year they turn more salt and pepper.
Through her journey at the sanctuary, she has rekindled her confidence and curiosity! Go Raksha!
ROMULUS
DOG | BORN: 2009 | RESCUED: JUNE 2009 COMPANION: CALYPSO
Romulus may be a Malamute mix, but nothing stops him from running with the wolves! Before coming to Saint Francis, he was mislabeled as a Wolfdog. The unfortunate truth is that he is one of many dogs that are mislabeled as Wolfdogs, to make purchasing him more “appealing”. It is not uncommon for breeders to sell “wolfy-looking” dogs under the guise of being a wolf or wolfdog to make an extra buck, knowing that most people do not know the difference.
Luckily for Romulus, Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary was able to step in and confirm that he is in fact all dog. While his brother Remus knew that family life was for him, Romulus had decided that he wanted to howl with the wolves. Romulus has spent most of his life here at the Sanctuary proudly helping to show people the many differences between wolves and dogs.
Most days you can find him cuddled up with the Juliet to his Romeo, Calypso, as they spend their time caring for each other. This dog knows how to live on the wild side!
RYU
WOLF | BORN: 2016 | RESCUED: MARCH 2018 COMPANION: STILL LOOKING
Ryu and her sister Raksha earned the nickname “Shadow Sisters” early on in their journey, but Ryu has grown to love the sunshine! Like her sister, Ryu has the natural neophobia that comes with her full wolf genetics. She may not always be the first to greet a tour, but she has gained a lot of bravery from her companion Achilles!
In the wild, wolves are socially monogamous—once they pick a partner, they will stick with them for life. Ryu has really shown us how important having a partner is! She may be nervous, but she loves to be sweet on Achilles, and with him at her side she can face anything. She is also the littlest member of our pack, but that doesn’t stop her big attitude!
Ryu may have started out skittish, but she has become a brave and bold girl!
Visit Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary and Meet the Wolves & Wolfdogs
OUR VISITING HOURS:
Tuesday thru Friday, & Sundays at 1:00 PM
Saturdays at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, & 3:00 PM
We are Closed to the Public on Mondays and Fridays
