Gypsy
Song for a Wolfdog
by Annie B.
02 November 1996
The blood of your ancestors flowed vainly over stricken earth, warm turning cold.
Futile sacrifice to god (man) who cares not for what is freely given, only for what he
takes.
The blood of your ancestors sings brightly in you, shimmering like stars.
The blood of my ancestors, long forgotten, wakens at your nearness.
Quickens, warms, remembers, sings a long forgotten song.
Slowly it begins, and builds, and fades.
A gypsy melody, exuberant and mournful in turn.
A woman laughs, a baby cries, an old man sings while his little dog dances.
These are my family pictures.
We are two forgotten, erased and rewritten time and time again.
Children’s stories, puppets, jokes, billboards.
Mixed breeds, both of us, fighting our way home only to be turned away.
You take what I offer in my hand, open, trusting me even as no one trusts you.
Your eyes uncover my soul, see my past buried there,
and you do not judge, do not change my name or retell my story.
Raised on fairy tales, weaned on lies, eyes open all the while.
I warm myself by your side. I offer you my life, my gypsy blood,
knowing you would never take it.
We will build a fire tonight, it will burn so bright the stars will fade by its light.
For kindling, man-eating beasts and old women’s curses.
History books burn slow and steady, like love.
Letter establishing the nature of crosses
between wolves, Canis lupus, and domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, and for the suitability
of these animals as household pets
by Raymond Pierotti, PhD
Professor of Mammalogy
UNIVERSITY of ARKANSAS
Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences 632 Science Engineering Building
Department of Biological Sciences Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
(501) 575-3251 (501) 575-4010 (Fax)
19 April, 1992
Dear Ms. Grenier:
In response to your letter of 14 April,I have the following comments with regard to criteria for establishing the nature of crosses between wolves, Canis lupus, and domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, and for the suitability of these animals as household pets. I make these statements based on 15 years of experience as a professional biologist working with a variety of Canids, including captive wolves and wolf hybrids. I Have participated in programs studying captive gray wolves and have reared wolf hybrids.
To begin with a common charge that is directed at wolf hybrids, these animals are not vicious. Their initial response is invariably to retreat from an unfamiliar human. Hybrids are far less likely to attack than many breeds of domestic dog, which have been bred, and socialized by Homo sapiens to not fear humans. Accordingly, domestic dogs threat humans as social equals and approach aggressively and attack under a variety of situations. This is borne out in statistics on fatalities resulting from dog attacks, where pit bulls, Alsatians (German shepherd), huskies, malamutes, and Rottweilers are responsible for the vast majority of fatalities (Sacks et al. 1989. Journal of the American Medical Association 262 (11):1489-1492).
It is sometimes claimed that it is possible to tell wolves from domestic dogs by genetic means. This is completely untrue. Domestic dogs have been derived from wolves, probably within the last 10,000 years (Olsen, S, 1985. Origins of the Domestic Dog. University of Arizona Press). As a result, there has been insufficient time to evolve distinct genetic lines that can be distinguished from one another using techniques that are currently available. In terms of chromosomes, both wolves and domestic dogs are identical with regard to both number and shape (a basic number of 78 and a fundamental number of 80) (Chiarelli 1975, In Fox, M.W., The Wild Canids, Van Nostrand Press). With regard to molecular genetics wolves and domestic dogs have identical allozymes (see Figures 2-4 and 2-5 in Seal 1975, from Fox, Wild Canids). More recent unpublished work on Mitochodrial and Nuclear DNA has verified these results. At present there is no way to distinguish between wolves and domestic dogs, or any crosses between these forms on the basis of molecular or chromosomal evidence.
A ramification of this genetic similarity, that often goes unrecognized is that wolves and domestic dogs are physiologically identical as well. This means that vaccines developed for domestic dogs (including rabies vaccine) work equally well on wolves (as well as on coyotes). Every scientist that I know who works with wolves, red wolves, or coyotes in captivity uses standard rabies vaccine on his or her animals, and no one has yet had a case of rabies develop, which suggests that the vaccine works well in these animals. I regard the tendency to argue that wolves and other canids cannot be vaccinated for rabies as at best ignorant, and at worst dangerous. The only tangible result of such a policy is that some wolves (and hybrids) and people and other animals may be needlessly exposed to rabies. To continue to advocate or support such a policy approaches irresponsibility.
Having said all of this I would like to also state that this does not mean that I advocate the ownership of wolves and wolf-hybrids by the general public. There should be careful regulation of ownership of such animals, as much for the protection of the animals themselves as for humans. I would also like to state that such regulation should also, be imposed on pit bulls, Rottweilers, Alsatians, and other larqe domestic breeds, which are actually far more dangerous to people as outlined above. I also think that, without exception, no individual should be allowed to possess more than 10 wolves or hybrids more than 3 months old, and most should not have more than 2-3 animals at any time. Hybrids are readily trainable to the leash, and are well socialized to a family if they are reared by an individual or family from an early age, but this type of relationship cannot be developed when a person has too many animals. Larger numbers of animals must be kept in large enclosures with refuges for persecuted individuals, but such animals should not be regarded as pets or sold to the general public for they will not be well socialized to humans. This does not mean they, are vicious, but simply that they will be difficult to handle and not make appropriate pets.
I hope that this information is of use to you. If any further information is needed; or if you need clarification of any points do not hesitate to call me at 501-575--7319. I would be willing to testify on the points I have made in court if this is required.
Yours,
Raymond Pierotti, PhD
Professor of Mammalogy
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