For 12 years now, Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary, a non-profit located in Montgomery, Texas, has served as a peaceful and caring refuge for abandoned, mistreated, and “unmanageable” captive-bred wolves and wolfdogs. They have directly rescued 25 animals, often from circumstances of extreme suffering and abuse, and provided them with loving, exceptional homes, and have indirectly saved many more by networking with others. They have also educated tens of thousands of people about wolves and wolfdogs, and touched people’s lives by bringing them into contact with these majestic creatures.
SFWS will need to relocate to new property in the next few years in order to achieve long-term sustainability. They hope to remain in the Montgomery area, and will need a property of at least 15 acres. Moving will provide the opportunity to greatly expand and improve enclosures and facilities. The new enclosures will feature: minimum size of 5,000 square feet, numerous sources of interest and enrichment with many trees and lots of grass, running water features, high-quality houses, multi-tiered platforms, areas in which shy animals can better “hide” from public view, more secure gate systems and improved drainage.
Of course, purchasing property and constructing new enclosures and facilities will involve a significant expense. SFWS hopes to have more detailed estimates in the coming months, but a current very rough cost estimate would be around $350,000 – $450,000 (while continuing to raise funds to cover our normal annual operating expenses — around $100,000 per year). They plan to pursue a number of different funding options. For additional information on SFWS, see their website: wolvesofsaintfrancis.org.
Postcards Magazine
936-293-1188
PO Box 690
Huntsville, TX 77342
