A Historical Perspective

F L OR I DA BY KIM MILES L U PI N E ASSOCIATION We have been asked repeatedly wolfdogs and dogs sold to what NLA is and what it does. unsuspecting buyers as wolfdogs),  Created in 1999 to People who are not already (2) the large number of help wolfdogs and members also want to know what unscrupulous “wolfdog” breeders owners in FL they will get out of NLA if they in Florida (and the nation), and (3)

 Created the website join. So let us take you on a journey the large number of uneducated in 1999 of NLA from its inception as the and/or irresponsible owners. Florida Lupine Association to its We then met several times (via  Hosted our first growth into the National Lupine phone and in person) during the annual members Association, through its various winter of 1998-99 to iron out the meeting in 2000, accomplishments, to what the specifics of the organization’s building it up to the organization does on a regular objectives and how they would best large wolfdog basis. But during this journey, let’s be accomplished. rendezvous it is not focus solely on what NLA can On February 25, 1999, we met today do for its members so much as what one final time in Orlando to solidify  Gained our first out- we can all do for each other as a our goals: both short term and long of-state board cohesive group comprised of and term. Our six-month goals were to member in 2011 representing responsible wolfdog construct the Articles of owners. Incorporation, Bylaws, and Mission  Gained our first Statement and then to register the international organization as a state nonprofit. member in 2016 THE BEGINNING

 Changed our name In 1997, five wolfdog from FLA to the owners and rescuers in National Lupine Florida recognized the Association in 2016 need for a cohesive to more accurately organization that could reflect our broader focus & membership be a voice for, and focus solely on, wolfdogs and their owners. NATIONAL In 1998, this group of LUPINE like-minded individuals ASSOCIATION came together and

P.O. Box 971063 determined that such an Miami, FL organization was impera- 33197 tive due to (1) the large number of animals The five founders of Florida Lupine Association at the first www.nationallupine.org coming into rescue (both Rendezvous in 2000 (L to R): Kim Miles, Jody Haynes, Beth Palmer, Mayo Wetterberg & Al Mitchell. P A G E 2

IT’S OFFICIAL Our longer-term goals (1-2 years) included a heavy focus on membership. We hoped to create a large database of both With our objectives outlined and a clear members and supporters. We also wanted to sense of purpose, on June 7, 1999, our Articles be able to host an annual rendezvous that were approved by the Florida Secretary of offered those in attendance an opportunity to State and the organization was official. The meet other wolfdog owners and animals, as over-arching objectives of FLA/NLA were well as provide them with educational (and remain today) to provide education, to presentations, fundraising auctions, and t- track legal issues, and to network with other shirts and other assorted merchandise. We organizations for the betterment of wolfdogs held our first official Rendezvous in May 2000 — i.e., to be a “responsible voice for the and achieved most of our 1-2 year goals wolfdog.” With our formal Bylaws, Articles, within the first year. and Constitution finalized, we had achieved — and even surpassed — the short-term goals set forth a few months earlier. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Our moderate-term goals (6-12 months) were to begin soliciting members; establish This section addresses our accomplishments contacts in various animal control (AC) over the last 17 years. agencies and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and Website become an organization that these agencies

recognize and respect; begin publishing Our website was created early on (1999) quarterly newsletters; and find a server to and has gone through a couple of different host and begin creating our website. We looks over the years, growing into the great published our first newsletter in the fall of achievement it is today. In 2015, we launched 1999 and achieved the rest of our 6-12 month our completely remodeled website, providing goals within six months. a more contemporary look; it now presents a P A G E 3 fresh, easily accessible interface for computers, and offer informational packets to responsible tablets, and mobile devices, while also breeders to disseminate to their buyers. housing a database of educational information We have been contacted by animal control and dozens of printable articles, brochures, and wildlife agencies to help on a variety of pamphlets, and other documents for anyone different fronts. Information packets and interested in a variety of wolfdog-related newsletters are also provided to veterinarians topics. The wealth of topics range from and animal control offices upon request. general information about wolfdogs to behavior, breeding, genetics, husbandry, Rendezvous domestication, misrepresentation, rabies, legislation, phenotyping, and more. We are Our annual member meetings, the NLA also proud that our site is visited by Rendezvous, have been a great success, individuals from around the world. bringing people together from across Florida

in its early years and then from across the Establishment nation as it grew. People attend from North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky, Early on, we made ourselves known to all and even as far away as New York, Illinois, of the animal control agencies in Florida, and Oregon. sending out mass mailings to their directors. We also established a network with a variety of wolfdog and dog shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries. We contacted the Florida State Veterinarian’s Office in addition to state veterinarians and law enforcement agencies in both Florida and a variety of other states. And we developed a strong and mutually beneficial working relationship with FWC.

Outreach

NLA provides a variety of resources for wolfdog owners that cover such things Presentation at the 2011 Rendezvous. Speaker is behaviorist and trainer Steve Johnson. as building containment, enrichment, and multi-level dog houses to identifying wolf and dog behaviors for a greater understanding Upon locating a campground that accepts of canine communication to allow for a better wolfdogs, we networked with the owner and relationship between owner and companion. onsite restaurant to ensure catering of the Though we are not a breeder’s club, we event. Each year NLA hosts a different guest provide information to current and speaker, discussing important issues ranging prospective owners to allow them to choose a from state and local regulations to breeder wisely, without recommending any phenotyping to training to medical issues. The specific breeders. We also provide information presentations over the years have covered a to breeders on responsible breeding practices broad range of topics, such as the following: P A G E 4

 Jim Hopkins from USAWA discussed a wolfdog breed standard in 2001  The Florida State Veterinarian addressed the rabies vaccination issue as it pertains to wolfdogs  Monty Sloan discussed the animals of Wolf Park and presented some of his photo artwork  Authors of Between Dog and Wolf: Understanding the Connection and the Confusion discussed their book and their experiences Rendezvous 2016. St. Johns River.  Veterinarians presented on their medical specialties Because our annual rendezvous is also our Just as our guest speakers fulfill NLA’s main opportunity to fundraise, attendees educational goal, our annual dog show seeks support the organization financially by to fulfill the need of any group gathering for a purchasing items that we offer for sale (e.g., more light-hearted and fun experience aimed books, wristbands, t-shirts) as well as at getting members and their animals participating in our auction. Because we are a involved and enjoying themselves. The dog non-profit, all donations to the organization show is the event most desired. Judging — whether monetary or material — are tax- evaluates not only the look of the animal, but deductible to the extent allowed by law. also focuses on the health and disposition. The rendezvous has been successful for Owners are encouraged to teach their animals the organization but more than that, it has obedience, to groom them, and to been a wonderful opportunity for wolfdog demonstrate healthy husbandry. owners to bring their animals and interact with other wolfdog owners, meeting face to face and getting to know other like-minded individuals. It has been such a hit that we now have a pre- rendezvous get together, with people arriving Wednesday and spending a few days together before the event. For the past couple of years, we have rented pontoon boats, and wolfdog owners and their animals have cruised up and down the St. Johns river to Lake George. This past year, two boats full of people and dogs went to Silver Glen Springs, a beautiful natural spring right off Lake George. Rendezvous 2016. Silver Glen Springs. P A G E 5

Newsletter That same year, we also published a The National detailed, science- Lupine News (form- based article on lower erly the Florida back problems in dogs Lupine News) is in the NLA newsletter beginning its 19th and as a stand-alone year of publication document. and has included a As a result of that variety of articles, article, other owners ranging from who had experienced medical and health similar misdiagnoses issues to legislative were able to correctly concerns to personal stories about owners and address them in their animals. The latest their wolfdogs. Educational articles have owner had been to a couple of different covered such things as canine health, veterinarians—all of whom had mis- behavior, training, genetics, bite inhibition, diagnosed her wolfdog with hip dysplasia. containment, husbandry, phenotyping, etc. She contacted a chiropractic veterinarian, Over the years, we have had many found out he had a dislocated sacrum , and members contact us with various specific rectified the problem, reducing unnecessary concerns, such as esophageal issues, back vet bills and her wolfdog’s pain. problems, coccidiosis, bottle feeding, breeding, etc. We have written and/or Disaster Relief Fund published articles in the newsletter that address these issues, and those articles have The hurricane season of 2004 was helped other owners who have read them. particularly bad in Florida. Within the span of One year we were contacted by an owner two months, three powerful hurricanes made whose wolfdog, Chakka, was diagnosed with landfall in the state. Damage sustained as a hip dysplasia at less than a year old. That year result of those storms was significant and we invited a chiropractic veterinarian to raised awareness of the needs of wolfdog speak at the annual rendezvous about owners for financial assistance following such chiropractic procedures and, specifically, disasters. about lower back misalignment problems that NLA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) was are often misdiagnosed as hip dysplasia. This established in September 2004 in loving owner came to the rendezvous with her memory of founding members Beth Palmer wolfdog, and the veterinarian performed a (who was a founding director, vice president, hands-on exam of the animal and suggested it and secretary) and Jan Mitchell (wife of first was a dislocated sacrum. president Al Mitchell) who both went to the The owner had her animal tested and Rainbow Bridge in 2003. Monies in the fund found out that the problem was, in fact, a were initiated using memorial donations to dislocated sacrum. She took Chakka in for a NLA made by friends and members of the couple of chiropractic adjustments and fixed Palmer and Mitchell families. the problem. Chakka never had another “hip The objective of the DRF is to provide ailment” and died of old age. financial assistance to wolfdog owners for P A G E 6

unexpected expenditures related to their One such recipient of an NLA research animals incurred as a direct result of a natural grant was Lindsay Mehrkam who was, at the disaster. Level of assistance from the fund can time, a graduate student in the University of be as much as $250 per person per incident Florida’s Canine Cognition Laboratory. directly from the DRF. Additional funding is Lindsay presented some of the results of her also accepted as tax-deductible Master’s thesis research at the donations made to NLA in the 2012 Rendezvous, which was name of affected individuals, My family was totally aimed at determining if human and all such funds are devastated in a interaction, itself, is a reward to transferred directly to the hurricane a few years wolves and wolfdogs in specified individual. ago. NLA stepped right sanctuaries. Since its inception, more than up and came to our aid. Following the rendezvous, 50 donors have graciously given the board voted to support They sent us funds and approximately $8,500 to the Lindsay financially with a $350 fund, and the DRF has paid out a stood by us in many grant to help defray the expenses total of nearly $9,000 to over a ways. They were a great of her attendance and dozen individual owners, three relief to our suffering. participation at the annual rescues/sanctuaries, and even an Thanks, NLA! We will conference of the Society for animal control facility, in a half always remember. Science, Literature, and the Arts dozen different states. Funding in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where ~ Jerry Mills has been used for such things as she gave a formal presentation on mending damaged fences and her thesis research. Lindsay’s removing downed trees following several conference presentation and the first scientific hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and fires; journal article that came out of her Master’s assisting with the transport of animals from research are both available on the NLA an animal hoarding situation following the website. owner’s death; and even helping to offset the Lindsay went on to get her Ph.D., obtained costs of dog food and vet care for an owner a position as a postdoctoral researcher at diagnosed with cancer. Oregon State University, and recently NLA has kept careful records of all funds accepted a position of Assistant Professor of received into and paid out of the DRF. To Psychology at Monmouth University in West maintain full financial transparency, the DRF Long Branch, New Jersey. accountability from the date the fund was initiated through the date of last activity is Media Coverage & Events available on the NLA website. NLA has been contacted by various media Research Grants outlets to educate about wolves and wolfdogs. NLA has made educational appearances on As a 501(c)(3) federal non-profit , NLA can both TV and radio. We have also been accept tax-deductible donations for a variety interviewed for online and in-print magazine of things. On occasion, we have the articles. Each opportunity allows us to opportunity and honor to return the favor by promote responsible ownership of wolfdogs issuing grants to researchers conducting and to educate about these wonderful interesting canine-oriented research. animals. P A G E 7

Law Enforcement Agencies & involved in rescue. Over the years, Shelters however, we continued our relationship with sanctuaries to As mentioned above, we pass on information about rescues coming in. have developed a strong working relationship with Recently, we began running a FWC, as well as many AC offices spotlight section in the NLA and local veterinarians. newsletter to showcase the various As a result of our ties with rescues and sanctuaries, with the goal FWC, in 2015 we were invited to present a of bringing attention to them and comprehensive training program on wolf and increasing awareness of these organizations, wolfdog content analysis (a.k.a., phenotyping) thereby generating referrals to them for to FWC wildlife law enforcement officers and potential adoptees and prompting more investigators at their required annual training financial support of them in their efforts to in Tallahassee. The presentation was well save these animals that we all love so dearly. received, and all in attendance were greatly appreciative. This training will further help Rabies & Wolfdogs them in their efforts to distinguish wolves from wolfdogs/dogs. NLA has been tracking the rabies vaccine NLA has been contacted by owners, issue for many years. Some wolfdog owners wildlife officers, attorneys, sanctuaries, etc., to are aware of some kind of rabies issue; provide assistance with phenotyping, expert however, much of this issue appears to be testimony, and legal issues (e.g., ownership). shrouded in myth. Some owners suffer the When NLA is contacted in an official capacity belief that the rabies vaccine will kill their to help a wolfdog owner or official/agency, animals; thus they refuse to have their our collective knowledge and experience wolfdogs vaccinated. carries more weight than that of an Wolfdog owners are not the only ones individual—and we have proven to be who suffer under the erroneous belief that the extremely effective in such cases. “lack of approval” for the rabies vaccine We have found that when wolfdog translates to “it fails to work” in wolves and owners (and organizations) have a good wolfdogs. Many veterinarians suffer the same relationship with state wildlife officials and beliefs, some suggesting that it isn’t worth the local wildlife or animal control personnel, it expense or effort of vaccinating and some goes a long way in showing them the truth of refusing to vaccinate altogether. NLA has wolfdogs (they aren’t ravening beasts or tried countering this erroneous mindset, confused about whether they should be including contacting legislative entities and wolves or dogs), and it affords them some veterinarians to explain the rabies situation comfort in knowing that wolfdog owners are and clarify that wolfdogs DO, in fact, need to educated about what they have and can be vaccinated. become a point of contact should they have In September 1999, APHIS, a division of any questions about wolfdogs. the USDA, submitted a proposal to amend the We also have a good working relationship federal Virus-Serum-Toxin Act which with many sanctuaries, which first began requested that canine biologicals (i.e., because the NLA founders were almost all vaccinations) be approved for use in wolves P A G E 8

and wolfdogs. The proposed amendment veterinarians. We also would have added a definition of the term promote that all “dog” to include all members of the species wolfdog owners Canis familiaris, Canis lupus, or any dog-wolf are responsible cross. USDA-APHIS believed that dogs, and adhere to wolves, and any dog-wolf cross could be acceptable levels safely and effectively vaccinated with canine of containment to vaccines, and this action would have allowed ensure protection of canine vaccines to be recommended for use in their animals and the dogs, wolves, and wolfdogs. public. During the USDA-APHIS open comment NLA has continued to work with local and period, NLA wrote in support of the proposed state officials to assist wherever possible when amendment. However, in July 2000, the decisions are being made regarding Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) individual dogs or decisions that will affect all and the American Veterinary Medical wolfdogs. Education and accurate information Association (AVMA) Council on are the critical tools that must be used. Biologic and Therapeutic Presenting fair and balanced information Agents opposed the provides public officials with the ability to broadening of the definition make the best possible decisions. of “dog” as it related to the rabies To help further our efforts at education, vaccine, even though AVMA’s NLA invited the Florida State Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinarian to one of our annual Veterinary Medicine suggested that rendezvous, where he reasonable evidence existed supporting the provided an educational

safe and efficacious use of canine vaccines in presentation on rabies wolves and wolfdogs. The AVMA Executive and the rabies vaccine as it pertained to Board ultimately notified the USDA of wolfdogs. AVMA’s opposition to the proposed rule, citing a lack of scientific evidence supporting NLA TODAY USDA’s suggestion that vaccines used to treat

domestic dogs would work safely in wolves So what is NLA doing today? It is doing and wolfdogs. In addition, both HSUS and much the same that it has done over the past AVMA were concerned that approving the 18 years, but there are some new rabies vaccine for use in wolfdogs would send developments within the organization. the wrong message to the public—that it approved of wolfdog ownership, something both organizations vehemently opposed. In Shifting Emphasis: State to National April 2001, the USDA withdrew their proposed change, and to this day, rabies When FLA/NLA was first created, there vaccination of wolfdogs remains off label. were a number of different wolfdog NLA has always advocated that all organizations across the country, both local animals living in close proximately to humans and national. Over the last decade or so, NLA be vaccinated for rabies. Wolfdog owners found itself the sole remaining wolfdog should discuss this procedure with their educational organization in the US. Yes, there P A G E 9 are a number of wolfdog sanctuaries that also inform wolfdog owners what they can do educate. But all of the educational when they face anti-wolfdog legislation in organizations and registries that once existed their areas. have since dissolved. NLA’s focus has, In recent years, we have seen increased therefore, shifted from Florida to providing activity by HSUS, lobbying to ban wolfdogs in assistance and information on a national level. different areas. Coming together with As such, we have changed the name of the wolfdog owners in those areas, NLA can help organization to reflect that national but only if those owners are willing to focus. do what needs to be done to address For the fiscal year beginning on anti-wolfdog legislation. After all, July 1, 2016, the Florida Lupine legislators listen more to their Association officially became the constituents than to those from National Lupine Association (NLA). outside of their area. Together, we can We are proud of our humble roots help each other and wolfdogs. within the State of Florida. But we are even prouder of being able to serve wolfdogs and Committee of State Representatives their owners on a national level. Our membership reflects the national Brainstorming what NLA can offer to thrust of the organization, with members wolfdog owners and to our membership, we from along the East Coast (Pennsylvania, determined that we should create a committee Virginia, the Carolinas, etc.), down of state representatives who will be the points throughout the Gulf Coast, Great Plains to the of contact within their respective states and be West Coast (Oregon and California). In responsible for monitoring any potential addition to a fantastic national membership, legislation against wolfdogs. If anti-wolfdog we also obtained our first international legislation is identified in a given area, these memberships this year. individuals can get the information out to other wolfdog owners within their states and Rescue to NLA in an effort to stay on top of any potential legislation and to address it more Though many of the founders and effectively. In addition, this is where NLA can members did or currently do wolfdog rescue, help foster a richer wolfdog community NLA does not since we have neither the across the US and within individual states. necessary insurance coverage nor a rescue facility. However, NLA still retains close ties to various rescue facilities and individuals, and we alert them whenever we are contacted about a rescue or someone interested in adopting a wolfdog.

Legislation

Because NLA is a 501(c)(3), we cannot focus a significant portion of our time on lobbying. We can and do, however, help P A G E 10

TESTIMONIALS

“Full Moon Farm, Inc., is a proud member of the National Lupine Association. Our educational programs are substantiated by the publications produced and made available by the NLA, and our mission as a rescue and sanctuary for wolfdogs has been complimented by our membership in NLA.” Rendezvous 2016, some of the 70 human and 35 canine attendees.

Nancy Brown CONCLUSION your support through your

FMF President membership to the We hope that this article organization as we transition has provided you with more from Florida Lupine “NLA is a wonderful insight into what NLA is and Association to National Lupine organization, dedicated to does. A dedicated board of Association. We hope to wolfdog education and is an directors meets regularly to become a national presence excellent source of discuss operations and ways that wolfdog owners both information for anything that NLA can help better serve support and turn to for wolfdog.” wolfdog owners and our assistance with anything community and continue to wolfdog. Geri Emmelman provide an inclusive environ- We continue to remain a Rescuer ment where members can come “responsible voice for wolf- together with like-minded dogs,” encouraging all wolfdog individuals who share the owners to be responsible in “The NLA Rendezvous has same passion. their ownership of these really shed much light and Please continue to show magnificent canines. encouragement on what standards to breed for in both behavior and looks, as well as To become a member, you can mail in your annual dues or pay proper ownership. Seeing the through PayPal on our website (go to our “Membership” page). dog show live, you really get an in-depth perspective of Individual Membership (US) $30 what structure and Family Membership (US) $40 personalities are considered International Membership $50 quality. What I witnessed was Business Membership $50 an unbiased unit of judges basing these things on facts, See our website for tax deductible sponsorship categories, also. with all personal feelings aside. It has motivated me to strive Sponsorships and membership help us to achieve our mission of for even more betterment.” educating, hosting annual educational meetings, and mailing out materials to those interested in learning more about wolfdogs. Visit Erika Andres Burns us at nationallupine.org or on Facebook for more information. Breeder

We’re on the web! www.nationallupine.org