Life with the wolves

A wolf's howl is a sound that bypasses the civilized mind and awakes a primitive part of the brain. It's a sensation that reminds modern man that humanity is not so far removed from a time when we were prey and the world was ruled by the brutal and clear laws of nature.

Bill and A.J. Russell have come to love that sound, what they call the wolf song. They got their first wolf hybrids, Cloud Dancing and Apple Brooke 15 years ago. The pair mated before they could get them neutered, then a friend split town when the Russells were wolf-sitting, and before they knew it they woke up and realized they were running a wolf hybrid rescue.

It's illegal to own a full-blooded wolf in New Hampshire. It's illegal in many states — but not N.H. — to own a wolf hybrid, an animal that has both wolf genetics and those of domesticated dogs. The Russells operate Dancing Brooke Lodge, named after their first two wolves, in Alexandria. They're now up to about 55 animals, which range from 60-percent wolf to 90-percent. The animals are kept in 14 large enclosures, mostly divided along family lines.

Dancing Brooke Lodge, a registered non-profit organization, has been located on about 225 mountaintop acres for two and a half years. Prior to that, the rescue was located in Lempster, but neighbors there sued the couple, claiming the wolf singing was infringing on their right to peaceful enjoyment of their property. The Russells are happy to report that in Alexandria, their nearest neighbor is about a mile away and the only complaint is that they can't hear the wolves.

The move to Alexandria was a major step for the organization. It meant that Bill had to retire from his job as a state trooper to care full-time for the animals. It also meant that they lost their network of volunteers and stepped into a new set of problems associated with their property.

A recession is a difficult time for any non-profit as donors have less to give. The Russells have found that being a wolf hybrid rescue is especially challenging. Benefactors of organizations such as humane societies or golden retriever rescues consider wolf hybrids to be a wild animal, while those interested in conserving wildlife think of the animals as domesticated pets.

It's a plight they can commiserate with. Bill said that although he and his wife appear caucasian, they both carry a small amount of Native American ancestry. However, it's not enough for them to enjoy the benefits they could if they were full-blooded. Society doesn't know what to do with "half-breeds," be they people or K-9.

Of the animals at Dancing Brooke Lodge, nine are the Russells' doing, descendants of their first two wolf hybrids. The rest have come to the rescue through a variety of unfortunate events and from all over the country. Some were picked up as strays rooting through suburban dumpsters, others were forcibly removed from neglectful or abusive homes. Many of them were surrendered directly to the rescue, either because the owners moved to a state where the animal is fauna non grata, or because the person became unable to control the animal once it matured and indulged its natural instinct to lead, to dominate. While some rescue agencies seek to find adoption homes for their animals, Dancing Brooke Lodge keeps the wolf hybrids for the rest of the animal's life. They don't dare adopt them out because even seasoned dog handlers need special training to be able to handle a wolf.

"They're different from dogs," explained Bill. "A wolf will test you a lot more, trying to take over that top leadership position." The animals appear much larger than the typical dog, but Bill said that's mostly the thick coat. Wolf hybrids range in weight from 80 to 120 pounds, as much as a German shepherd or a big Labrador retriever.

They are long, though. A wolf hybrid standing on its hind legs can look Bill eye to eye. Another anatomical difference is the final joint of the front paw. While dogs can only articulate the paw front and back, a wolf's joint is more like a human wrist in that they can turn the paw inward. In the wild, that makes it easier to take down a large animal. At Dancing Brooke Lodge, it means the wolf hybrids can give a true hug, usually throwing in a face-cleaning for good measure.

Living with the wolves has been a sacrifice for the Russells, to be sure. They live at the rescue, staying in a large four-season tent at the end of 2.5-mile Class VI road that gains 800 feet from the parking lot to the rescue. The road is the responsibility of the abutters and the Russells are the only abutters. Currently, the only way in or out is on snowmobile, although that will change to a very muddy ATV ride within the next few weeks.

Once home, the Russells don't have many amenities to enjoy. They don't have running water, unless the nearby mountain-side spring counts. Electricity is provided by a generator, a wood stove keeps them warm and they cook using propane which is hauled in by snow machine.

It's been a financial sacrifice as well. Bill's retirement benefits go to dog food and vet bills while A.J. covers their personal expenses by working as a nurse for the Belknap County Nursing Home in Laconia. Their current pack goes through 500 to 1,000 pounds of food each week, an amount that is made up of scrap meat donated by local butchers, ripped bags of dog food donated by Wal-Mart and carcasses donated by the Baker River Deer Farm in Plymouth. Those sources are unpredictable and often fluctuate with the season, so the Russells dig into their own pockets to feed their animals.

When they purchased the Alexandria property in 2007, financing was impossible to come by so the seller agreed to accept interest payments for three years. That time is about up, and the Russells are staring at a $110,000 balloon payment due this fall. Their hope is to raise enough this year, though a plea for donations or through several fundraising events planned this year, to pay most of that and finance the rest. The more they can pay off, the lower their monthly expenses will be in the long term and the more they can devote to the animals they live to care for.

In addition to the mortgage challenge, they're hoping to raise enough over the coming few years to repair a bridge and improve their road to the point where volunteers — or visitors, once they get the permit from the USDA — will be able to drive to the rescue. More information about the fundraising events and efforts can be found at www.dancingbrookelodge.org.

As it is right now, volunteers have to snowshoe or hike for a couple of hours, time which the Russells could use caring for the animals. They feel they're at capacity now, though they have plenty of real estate. The limit is not due to space but resources and manpower. They feel if they accept any more, they'd only have time to deliver food and water to the animals and wouldn't have time to care for them.

Hitting that limit is an inevitable yet heart-breaking part of any animal rescue, because the need for their work is so present. There's only one other organization in the state that operates on a scale such as Dancing Brooke Lodge, but the calls for help don't stop coming. As many as three to eight calls every week. A.J. said "It's hard to constantly turn them away," especially because of the fate that falls on the animal as soon as the last rescue has said no. "If they can't find a place with us, or with a place like us, they're put down," she said.

"These animals didn't ask to be here," said Bill. "The people caused the problems, not them." As part of their mission to help the animals they've grown to love, the Russells are happy to provide lectures and other forms of education about wolf hybrids and their rescue operation.

Their friends from their past life think they're crazy and some of their family members won't even come visit. However, Bill and A.J. have no regrets.

"I'm working harder than I did as a trooper, but this is much better pay back," said Bill.

A.J. said she's reminded every night when she comes home from work why their rescue is worth her sacrifices. She rides the snowmobile up the mountain and as she approaches she begins to hear her pack singing to her, singing for her, announcing and rejoicing her return.

"They give a big greeting," she said. What's the meaning behind the howls? "Unconditional love," she said.