Sasha Faces Death in Alaska

by Sherry Morse

An Anchorage family's companion animal, which they claimed was a German shepherd/husky mix, has been seized by officials who say that the animal is actually a hybrid wolf.

In Alaska it is illegal to keep wolf hybrids or other wild animals as companions. Sasha, who was part of the Cozad family for three years, was impounded in early January after she escaped from the family yard.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game claims Sasha is a threat to the community, and that all wolf hybrids are a threat. They believe the hybrids can easily transmit diseases and are dangerously unpredictable.

Rick Sinnott of the Department of Fish and Game said of the Cozads, "They are being irresponsible on many levels. They are claiming now that the animal is not a wolf hybrid...anyone who knows what a wolf looks like and a husky looks like knows this is clearly not a husky or shepherd, it is a wolf."

After her seizure, Sasha was taken to Anchorage Animal Control where she is scheduled to be euthanized at the beginning of February. The Cozads are doing everything they can to keep their companion animal alive.

Aimee Cozad said, "We just don't want her killed. It's not her fault that all this is going on."

The Cozads have offered to pay as much money as is needed to have Sasha sent to a refuge.

Wolf advocates agree with the Cozads. Tea Martino of Wolf Town in Washington said, "The people who break the law are going to do it anyway and the animal should not be punished for this. The owner should be put in jail or fined, not the dog put down - that's backwards justice."

Several wolf advocates have called the governor's office and requested that instead of being executed, Sasha should be turned over to a licensed wolf educator.

"We're actually very interested in providing her with a new home," said Vivian Singer-Ferris, executive director of the Kerwood Wolf Education Centre in Ontario, Canada.

"We received, I think, it's close to a few hundred phone telephone calls and e-mails about her," Singer-Ferris said.

However, Alaska considers Sasha to be contraband - and the state does not ship contraband.

The Department of Fish and Game stated that Sasha was seized to reinforce the facts that hybrid wolves are illegal in Alaska and that people should not purchase them, so that the department will not face this situation again.

Anchorage Animal Control can be contacted by phone at (907) 343-8118 or by fax at (907) 343-8134.

© 2004 Animal News Center, Inc.