Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and lifelong care of wolves, wolfdogs, and other wild canid species. As a permanent placement facility we are NOT an adoption agency. 

However, in January of 2024 a domestic dog was left tied to a post outside our Gift Shop, abandoned by her owners, and we were forced to take her into our care until a new home could be found. 

This application is designed exclusively for her adoption, and is designed to help Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and yourself determine if "Butternut Squash" is the right fit for you and your household.

All interested parties are required to complete this form prior to adoption. If we believe you might be a good fit for Butternut, we will contact you at the phone number or email address provided below. 

For those with questions or seeking more information, please contact us at brittany@wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org or add your questions to the form below. 

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary reserves the right to deny any adoption based on answers to this questionnaire and/or interviews prior to adoptions!

ABOUT BUTTERNUT SQUASH:

Since being abandoned at the sanctuary, Butternut Squash has been cared for by one of our staff members, who has compiled a list of information for those interested in her adoption. A brief summary is shown below, with more detailed information available upon request.

SUMMARY:

• Lived with 2 other dogs (male and female) for several months and loved to play, but was often not respectful of their communication and boundaries, and did NOT like sharing attention with their owner. This ultimately led to Butternut being separated from them.
  
  • She can likely share her life with other dogs, but it may take the right fit and time to properly integrate her into a new "pack."
    
    
• Did not exhibit issues with resource-guarding from other dogs or humans. 
  
  
• Lived with 2 cats (male and female) and did well with them; however, she would guard the bed intensely from them, leading to her being removed from the household due to concerns with their safety. 
  
  • She can likely share her life with cats that do well with dogs, but we recommend intense supervision, especially as she settles in, should you have a home with cats.
    
    
• Typically nervous around new people and known to bark and chuff at them, especially when meeting in her "territory" as opposed to a neutral space. Meetings out on leash were the most successful for us!
  
  
• Butternut HAS snapped at people out of nervousness and fear. She has never broken skin, but potential adoptors should be aware of her fear-based reactivity for the safety of themselves and other people. 
  
  
• We have never introduced her to children but based on the above, caution those with kids about adopting her. 
  
  
• Once she is comfortable with a person, she allows most forms of touch, including on sensitive areas like her neck, stomach, feet, ears, etc. She LOVES being pet and played with once comfortable. 
  
  
• Does well inside (when supervised - Unknown how she would do unsupervised) and does not damage the home, jump up on things, get into trash, etc. 
   
• Walks well on leash (doesn't pull) but can have some sensitivity about her collar being taken off/put back on (we leave it on all the time as a result). 
  
• Does NOT go into confined spaces (like crates, igloos, etc.) willingly and WILL try to avoid being put into them (even with treats, gentle coaxing, etc.)
  
  
  • This can likely be worked on with time, patience, and experience. 
    
    
• We believe she is still intact (no spay scar or tattoo observed), but cannot say with 100% certainty. Wild Spirit MAY be able to get her spayed/vaccinated through a local low-cost clinic but do not guarantee this.

I understand that I assume full responsibility for the welfare of this pet from the date of adoption.