Humane Society To Euthanize Wolf-Dogs Group Hopes To Curtail Covert Breeding In Latah County

The Humane Society of the Palouse is taking action to curb the covert breeding of wolf-dog hybrids.

Any animal brought into the society’s local shelter that is determined to be one-fifth or more wolf will immediately be destroyed in a humane manner, general manager Bill Clark said.

The society’s board of directors passed a resolution instituting the policy last week after a wolf-dog hybrid that reportedly had been terrorizing people in Bovill was captured by authorities on Christmas Eve.

Clark said he has received reports from several sources that there are at least six breeders of wolf-dog hybrids in Latah County.

The animal in Bovill apparently had come from one of those breeders and was chained unattended to a mobile home with another dog.

“He growled and lunged and snapped,” Clark said.

“I told the sheriff’s deputy that if he got me down and had me by the throat, shoot him.”

But Clark said he managed to gain the wolf-dog’s confidence enough to grab its collar.

When the animal tried to bite him, Clark said, he slammed it to the ground.

“From that point on, it was instant love,” Clark said.

The animal was brought to the shelter, but the society’s board of directors eventually agreed it should not be adopted out and that euthanasia was the only option.

“We were concerned with the legal issues, but we were more worried about the moral issues,” Clark said.

“When they decide to go bad, it will be quick and you won’t see it coming. And the outcome could be tragic.”