Haida and Hopi

Haida Hopi

Haida and Hopi were two of Mission:Wolf's most beloved wolf-dog crosses. They spent years living happily together, sharing their wisdom and kind natures with staff and visitor alike.

Haida was a white and black wolf-dog cross who lived at Mission:Wolf her entire life. Haida was a very friendly and outgoing canine, but was by no means tame or domestic. She was known to rip apart brooms, chew on dishes in the sink, balance on the back of the couch, and steal food out of the cabinets whenever she came into the kitchen. Haida was out of control while inside, but was sweet natured and devoted to her companion, Hopi.

Hopi, was born at Mission:Wolf. His litter was the accidental result of inadequate fencing. The separation fence was not strong enough to keep his father from digging in to mate with his mother on that fateful January morning. It is amazingly difficult to contain a determined wolf. Growing up at the refuge, Hopi was always the omega (lowest ranking) of the "Wolf-Dog Pack" but managed to maintain his happy-go-lucky nature. His distinctive markings caused many people to believe that he was part Rottweiler or German shepherd, but in fact, Hopi was one quarter wolf and three quarters malamute. Tan spots above his eyes always added a special expressiveness to Hopi's face. Although he always liked to bark and growl at people when food was around, Hopi was very friendly the rest of the time.

As they began to age, Hopi and Haida's ability to climb the steep hills in their enclosure deteriorated. In a necessary decision, Haida was moved up to the veterinary building to receive special attention from the staff. Despite being 15 years old and having severe arthritis, she always found trouble to get into. Haida climbed up on the counters, pulled open the cabinets, tore open food bins and shredded blankets on a daily basis.

However, Haida was miserable; she liked all of the attention, but she missed Hopi. Once Hopi joined her in the small enclosure, they were as happy as could be. When they were young, Hopi and Haida formed a strong bond with each other that lasted their entire lives. This is very common for wolves and wolf-dogs. They grow attached to their puppy-hood companions and will pine after them if separated later.

In August 2001, Haida passed away due to old age and natural causes. Hopi survived his beloved mate by nearly a year. He fought off the pain and frustration of loosing one of his front legs to bone cancer and continued to smile whenever anyone would pass. While it is often very difficult for such an old animal to recover from major surgery, Hopi's strength and perseverance was a testament to the incredible will and resilience of his species. Even with only three legs, Hopi would still tear the staff kitchen apart whenever he was brought inside for some extra attention. Beating all odds, Hopi survived until June of 2002, when he was tearfully relieved from his pain.

Haida as a youngster Young Hopi