Updated 06/17/2010 08:10 AM
Two wolf hybrids take a flight from Oregon to Texas
Intern Showcase: Two wolf hybrids, Apache and Lakota, flew from Oregon to the Saint Francis Sanctuary in Montgomery, Texas Friday, after an elderly couple decided to give them up.
Wolves on a plane may seem frightening, but with the Pet Relocation staff on board, everything went as planned.
Pet Relocation is an Austin-based company that offers one-on-one, full-service arrangements using pet-friendly airlines for domestic and international travel. Staff is trained to understand various health, vaccination and quarantine requirements for pets entering different countries.
Jean LeFevre, who some call "Grandmother Wolf," works at Saint Francis Sanctuary, a permanent home for captive-born and wild wolves and wolf-dogs. She said she was initially concerned and unsure about the 12-year-old wolves' stress levels on a plane, but after talking with the elderly couple, LeFerve's priorities changed.
“My heart went out to the couple," she said. "We wanted to help them. Not many can take on full-blood animals, but we can."
The couple was able to find homes for all of their animals, but a home for Apache and Lakota was the most challenging.
"It's not easy to find homes for full-blooded wolves. I was very impressed by their obvious desire to make sure they were safe," LeFevre said.
Although this was the first time Pet Relocations worked with wolves, they made sure Apache and Lakota had a safe flight.
"A lot of people think that flying their pets isn't safe, but we make sure the pets get used to their crates a couple of days before the flight," Pet Relocation Director of Public Relations Rachel Farris said.
Along will the familiarity of the crates, Pet Relocation ensures the animal will be in climate-controlled and secure conditions.
Pet Relocation is currently working on a fund for the pets, and encourages people to help rescue and save animals.
For more information about Pet Relocation, visit PetRelocation.com.