All Hearts Foundation says no to exotic pet trade

All Hearts Foundation, a wolf sanctuary based in Hartbeespoort, said it will continue to monitor the situation involving the Canadian Timber wolf that’s being kept at the Benoni SPCA.

The founders of the organisation, Lexi Austen and her husband Ronnie, said over the past few days they have been inundated with calls from concerned members of the public requesting them to assist with moving Logan, the Canadian wolf, to a wildlife sanctuary.

This is after it was revealed that the wolf that escaped from the property of Absolute Exotics SA in Benoni Agricultural Holdings on New Year’s Eve will no longer be moved to a wildlife sanctuary but will be temporarily homed at the SPCA to allow the owners, Absolute Exotics SA, time to improve the wolf’s enclosure.

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“We have been in touch with Benoni SPCA’s head inspector and have been making followups with them. We will await the outcome of their decision because the SPCA are the animal police. “They have the jurisdiction to make decisions above us. Legally, if Absolute Exotics SA follows all the SPCA standards by improving their enclosures and having Logan sterilised, it will be hard to deny them access to the animal.”

Lexi said Logan should be housed at a sanctuary. However, they can’t force the owner to make that decision. She said their goal is to put an end to exotic wildlife trade in South Africa.

“People owning tigers and other wild animals as pets is a letdown to the animals because they are not pets. Owning a pet such as the Canadian Timber wolf is nothing like owning a dog. When we refer to a wolf we do not call it a dog.

“Yes, the scientific name is Canis lupus and they fall in the canine department but they are not a dog, they are wild animals and they can never truly be domesticated. Ever since we started this job, we haven’t seen one wolf that you can walk on lead comfortably without it showing signs of stress – unless it’s a hybrid, then there’s a potential opportunity.”

Lexi said a hybrid is an animal that has been crossbred with another animal.

“Normally, breeders take any breed and then cross-breed it with a wolf to try and get better security dogs or other reasons.

“As a sanctuary, we are against this act. When these animals are cross-bred, you deal with an animal that is half wild and half domesticated. “When their wild instincts kick in they can attack your child or your other pet.

“Most of the wolves that have been surrendered to us were not sterilised because people want to make a profit from these animals.”

She added that looking at Logan, she can tell that he is a pure breed and not a hybrid.

Canadian Timber wolf personality

Lexi said Canadian Timber wolves are shy and they are pack orientated and they thrive in being with their own kind. “When strangers approach them, they run away and when they generally feel threatened they can attack that person.

“Their temperament is very difficult to judge because you don’t know how that animal is raised, or if it’s fed correctly.”

She shared that people who own wolves need to get them on a raw diet.

“If they are not on a raw diet, they tend to escape and therefore kill the farmers’ chicken or sheep or potentially kill the family’s pet because they need that sustenance. “We have a wolf that was surrendered to us because she ate the family cat while the family was away, and due to that she wasn’t fed correctly.”

The founder of All Hearts Foundation explained it can cost about R350 a day on a raw diet to feed one wolf. Lexi shared that they have worked with the Benoni SPCA previously.

“Logan is not the first wolf to escape. We have been involved in about five rescue missions. We still find owners who don’t know how to look after wolves, hence, we always advise the public to contact us to assist.”

Lexi said a wolf needs to be kept in a properly enclosed space with a high-quality fence that is cemented into the ground and at least 2,4m high.”

She added that there are no laws against keeping exotic animals as pets. However, a permit is needed if you transport such an animal from one province to another.

“We hope laws will change to force owners with wild animals as pets to have permits. We need the public to use their voices to stop these animals being traded the way that they are now,” said Lexi.

All Hearts Foundation is a South African NPO that relies on the public’s support in terms of donations, love and dedication to the rescue and rehabilitation of all animals in need. Anyone who would like to find out more information about the organisation or wants to surrender their wolves should contact Lexi on 072 873 3881 or email info@ allheartsfoundation.co.za.

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