As the local Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary continues to promote awareness and gain more momentum with their tours, locals and tourists alike can spend time with the rescued wolfdogs.
Since April 2014, the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary has made its home in rural Cochrane, located on 160 acres west of Hwy 1A off of Range Rd. 53.
It is the only official rescue facility for wolfdogs in the province and is one of Cochrane’s newest tourist attractions.
Georgina De Caigny is the resident facility operator who currently has 12 wolfdogs (ranging from ‘low wolf content’ to ‘high wolf content’) in her care — including three low-mid content wolfdogs remaining from the Milk River acreage rescue that saw the capture of 201 malnourished and neglected dogs at the end of January.
The seizure was dubbed one of the ‘worst cases of neglect ever seen’ by the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS), igniting a fury across the province from dog lovers and animal rescue societies.
De Caigny was notified by AARCS that the seizure would be taking place — as the society was advised there were some dogs that may have wolf content.
She initially took in six animals — one that was adopted out, two females that are currently in foster care and three males that remain in her care.
While De Caigny said she ‘has high hopes’ that one male dog, Flash (a no-low content wolf dog), will get adopted, it is highly unlikely that males Horton (low content) and Shadow (mid content) would ever be rehabilitated enough to be re-homed.
Her present goal for Horton and Shadow is to be able to move them into a larger enclosure. The animals remain very high stress and fearful.
The sanctuary is completely reliant on donations and revenue from their tours to maintain.
De Caigny works closely with Calgary Animal Services, the Calgary Humane Society and other dog rescue societies.
Wolfdogs are legal in Alberta, as long as the animal is a hybrid (not pure wolf); they are also legal in B.C.
To learn more, visit yamnuskawolfdogsanctuary.com. Tours are $39/person for those aged 12 and up.
This summer the sanctuary is striving to do ‘self-guided tours’ for ages six and older — where people will be able to drop in and visit with the wolfdogs (from behind a fence barrier).
