Shy Wolf Sanctuary Benefit Jewelry

The Shy Wolf Sanctuary, Education and Experience Center, is based in founder Nancy Smith's house - more exactly, her backyard. Clearly, this is not a regular backyard. For starters, there are 2.5 acres of terrain and several cages containing wolf-dogs, coyotes, prairie dogs, ferrets, foxes, tortoises, leopards and even cougars.
It all started in 1993, when Smith rescued her first wild animal: "Moondance," a three-legged black Asian leopard that still lives at the Sanctuary. Since then, while the drive to help is the same, the labor is greater. "I've always loved animals," explained Smith. "I can't stand their suffering." All the animals at the Sanctuary have been either abused or abandoned, most of the time, according to Smith, because people don't understand that they cannot domesticate a wild animal. "They buy animals like foxes at the pet store and they expect them to behave like Chihuahuas, which is ridiculous and not possible," she said. "Wild animals need to live in their natural environments, not on tile or cement." This is one of the reasons cages at the Sanctuary are built as spacious enclosures, with trees, plants, caves and water structures. Everything is thought out according to the animals' needs and instincts. For instance, there are ponds with live fish for those animals that like to fish,
and high perches for those that like to crawl upward. Prairie dogs have subterranean homes where they can dig all they want and keep busy. Everything stays clean, safe and in working condition thanks to 14 volunteers that take turns to feed, brush and pamper the animals, as well as administer the medications some animals need. "We work with probation officers who bring people in for community service, and also with kids who build the habitats for the animals," said Smith.

The sanctuary is called "'Shy Wolf" for a reason. According to Smith, animals like wolves and wolf-dogs are either not interested in or afraid of humans. "Animals have all type of personalities and feelings, as humans do. An animal is forever considered vicious, even when people invade their territory," explained Smith. "We deal with fear and try to explain to people that fear is in their head and it must be switched to caution, because caution is based on facts."
As part of the outreach educational program, the Sanctuary welcomes visitors to tour the installations and meet face-to-face with the animals, many of which constantly interact with humans. Such is the case with Nakipa, a female wolf-dog that often travels around the county to educational events, and who is considered to be the official greeter of the Sanctuary. A high-percentage wolf-dog, Nakipa was abused since she was just a few months old; however, she now loves attention and relates well to humans. Timka was another successful recovery case. A low percentage wolf-dog, she was severely neglected by her owner. When she arrived to the Sanctuary she was at least 30 pounds underweight and unable to stand. "Animals, like humans, have their purpose in life; Timka's was to offer unconditional love," said Smith. "When we rescued her, I promised her she would never be lonely, hungry or thirsty ever again, and she was not." Timka became the dedicated foster mom to two wolf-dog puppies
rescued from Kissimmee. She lived 11 months longer that she would have, and according to Smith, she smiled until the moment she died.

There are many other examples. Each animal at the Sanctuary has its own story, and many participate in the Center's programs. Coy-dog Amaya (a mix between coyote and dog), for instance, has an excellent success rate with autistic children, to whom she tries to talk. The Center also works with seniors, children clubs and groups, ecology groups and individuals.

Beside providing a safe home to these animals, Smith's main goal is to educate people about the problems breeding and the purchase of wild animals bring. "It is through empathy that we find compassion," she said. The Sanctuary, and Smith herself, live by the saying: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.

The Center's wish list includes two industrial or extra-large working freezers to stock boxes of food, as well as labor and equipment to build a perimeter fence they need to put up by December of this year, because of city regulations. The Center is licensed by both state and federal entities as well as inspected on a regular basis. For more information on Shy Wolf, to schedule a tour of the facilities or a visit to your school or event, call 455-1698.

Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 3032 Naples Fl 34106.