After a New York family received death threats over the housing conditions of their outdoor husky, they put him up for adoption. Our partners at WKBW report Wolf didn't stay at the local adoption center, though.
"The SPCA says Wolf's living conditions were fine. The animal was not malnourished. ... Because of the dog's aggressive history, the SPCA says the dog was not a candidate for adoption," the WKBW reporter said.
And since adoption was off the table, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or SPCA, was considering euthanizing Wolf. Not ideal, so the organization brought in outside agencies to study the dog. They found the dog was actually best suited to live outside.
"This animal has been tossed from household to household ... has bit on several occasions ... and most of this biting occurred while the animal was inside, while the animal was confined indoors in some way," an SPCA spokesperson told WGRZ.
After the SPCA had some conversations with Wolf's former owners, they decided he could come back home.
"Wolf will be returned with his owners today, but the animal organizations want social media harassments to stop," the WKBW reporter said.
"I don't think the owner should have had to give up a dog that was sufficiently taken care of," said Jenn Wheeler, vice president of Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue.
Part of the problem stemmed from a photo circulating online that supposedly showed Wolf outside in the cold. The photo wasn't actually Wolf.
"He's proven indoors he doesn't do well there. ... More damage could have been done. This dog could have been euthanized because of a photo of a dog that wasn't even him on Facebook," Wheeler told WIVB.
One of the groups involved, Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue, posted a note from organization vice president Jenn Wheeler. She gave an update on Wolf's reunion with his family:
"The gentleman of the family is a Vietnam Veteran with PTSD. He and Wolf have a bond. ... This man served our country and was repaid in social media terrorism. ... Upon our arrival to Wolf's home today, we were greeted by husband and wife, in tears."
So now hopefully Wolf can have his happily ever after.
