Conclusions

Removal Of Endangered Species Status

Wolves are an endangered species, and currently enjoy the protection that that status provides. The breeding of hybrid wolves poses a risk of re-classifying that status, thanks to a more abundant population consisting of hybrid pups and adults who, having been unsuccessfully introduced into a home, are then released into the wild. It is difficult, if not impossible, to tell a hybrid from a wild wolf, which might then lead zoologists to believe that a population has reached sustainability. Sustainability is, of course, a prime reason for the removal of Endangered Species protection.

Wolf Hybridization Does Not Occur Naturally

Respected Wolf biologists from all over the world agree that wolves do not naturally mate with dogs. In fact, thanks to recent DNA evidence, we know that such mating has occured only once, or at best, several times, as long as 130,000 years ago. Vila, Wayne, et. al. have demonstrated that if domestication were a common event, dog and wolf haplotypes would be mixed to a much greater extent than they are. The vast majority of dog haplotypes are found in a single clade, which indicates that domestication was a rare event.

The exception to this appears to be when wolf populations are exceedingly small, such as in Norway. The survival instinct appears to over-ride the wolf’s natural aversion to domestic animals, and mating does occur. Still, hybrid offspring appear to have a low survival rate.

Hybridization diminishes the species

As we have seen countless times with dogs, human breeding of animals is done selfishly, encouraging the development of harmful traits for the sake of cosmetic appearance. Wolf rescue organizations report 300 to 400 calls a day from people who have learned that wolf dogs, wolf hybrids or pure bred wolves don’t make good pets. Such animals are either abused, released into the wild or destroyed, in spite of the efforts of breeders and supporters of wolf hybrids to educate both present and potential owners. The fact is that the interbreeding of wolves and dogs serves neither. What it does serve is the bank account of the breeders, who cater to those humans who believe that owning a powerful breed of dog somehow transfers that power to themselves.