TENINO, Wash. — Wolf Haven International recently welcomed three new animals: Sirius, Penn and Elle.
The Tenino nonprofit has been around since 1982 and is the only wolf sanctuary in the world to be accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). In 2024, the organization was also selected from over 200 GFAS-certified sanctuaries worldwide to receive the esteemed GFAS Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary Award.
Sirius
Wolf Haven International says Sirius was the first to arrive. He was born in 2017 in New Mexico, and collared to allow the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program team to monitor his movement. When he was just one-and-a-half years old, he was found with a severe injury to his front right leg, which later required amputation.
“Sirius was relocated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge after his surgery, but it soon became clear that he needed a long-term home where he could comfortably live away from human activity,” the sanctuary wrote in a news release.
He was transferred to Wolf Haven to be a companion for Sedona.
The sanctuary says trail cameras captured them bonding fairly quickly—and are often seen sharing meals and napping together.
It is not uncommon for three-legged wolves to thrive,” states Pamela Maciel Cabañas, Wolf Haven’s Sanctuary Director. “Even in the wild, they are known to live long, fulfilling lives. But we are amazed by Sirius’ strength and speed, especially when chasing ravens away from his food caches!”
Penn and Ellie
In the same week as Sirius’ arrival, Wolf Haven staff also welcomed their first ever double rescue: five-year-old Ellie, and ten-year-old Penn.
Ellie was born to a backyard breeder and purchased as a pup, but the sanctuary says her behavior became increasingly unmanageable, so her owners surrendered her. A private rescue operation in Washington stepped in to prevent Ellie from being transferred to a shelter, where she could have potentially been euthanized. Results from a DNA analysis revealed that Ellie is actually 90% wolf and only 10% domestic breed dog, so the rescue immediately contacted Wolf Haven to find Ellie a permanent home with specialized care.
Penn was also purchased at a young age to be a pet. Wolf Haven says he spent his entire life chained up inside a tiny space with deplorable conditions. After his owner passed away, two volunteers from Endless Pawsibilities reached out to Wolf Haven to find Penn a new home.
After a week of individual acclimation, they were allowed to meet each other and quickly became inseparable.
“Penn and Ellie’s energy is contagious, and their enthusiastic chases and vocalizations often inspire play for wolves and wolfdogs in neighboring enclosures,” the sanctuary said.
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