WOLF sues to reverse ruling

By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News

Larimer County will challenge a lawsuit that contends it acted improperly in denying expansion of a Rist Canyon wolf-hybrid sanctuary.

The attorney representing Wolves Offered Life and Friendship on March 4 filed the complaint in Larimer District Court. It seeks reversal of the ruling, contending that the county commissioners acted arbitrarily and exceeded their authority.

County Attorney George Hass said the county is preparing a response to the suit. He estimated it would not be scheduled for a hearing until May or June.

"The commissioners relied upon incomplete and incorrect information in making their decision," WOLF co-founder Frank Wendland stated in a press packet announcing the lawsuit.

"We have met every demand and done everything required of us for the past eight years, all without neighbor complaints," he continued.

"All our enclosures are built to Division of Wildlife specifications, and our fences were approved by a county building inspector. We have established a fire evacuation plan that provides for the safety of humans first and establishes dens for the animals to 'survive in place.' Our track record is excellent, and most neighbors actually support our work."

In 1994 Wendland and his wife Patricia Lanteri-Wendland purchased the 182-acre property to establish a refuge for wolf-dog hybrids. Under the conditions of their first special review, the refuge was limited to 30 animals distributed over five acres.

WOLF sought to modify those conditions to permit housing up to 60 animals over 30 acres. Following spirited testimony by supporters and opponents alike, the commissioners in February rejected that proposal in a 2-1 vote. Commissioners Kathay Rennels and Glenn Gibson were opposed, expressing reluctance to modify the original conditions and concerns about the difficult access in event of a fire.

Wendland said the expansion is essential to accommodate 18 wolf dogs rescued from squalid conditions in 2006. Those animals currently are housed in temporary quarters in Gilpin County. He maintained that WOLF is providing an invaluable service and should be supported in its request to use more of its land to house additional animals.

The overriding problem, according to Wendland, is the unregulated and increasing breeding of wolf-hybrids that are not suitable as pets and cannot be turned out into the wild.

"Misguided human beings bred them, and they certainly do not deserve to be killed just because they don't fit neatly into our society," he stated.

"Our overall mission is to put ourselves out of business," Wendland insisted. "But in order to decrease the numbers of unwanted wolf-dogs in our country, laws must be passed to prevent people from breeding wolf-dogs. Until such laws are enacted and enforced, however, we as a society have an obligation to provide for their well-being."

Wendland said he has contacted local legislators to sponsor a bill that would make it illegal to breed wolves to dogs in Colorado.