Katrina

Photo © 2009 - Mission:Wolf

Katrina (also known as KT and Katie) was born in the spring of 1984 at the same roadside zoo that Sila and Rowdy would later come from.  She was a 75% wolf cross that overcame hurdle after hurdle in her long life.  As a young pup, she was sold to a Denver-based attorney who was very prepared to take on the responsibilities of a wolf.  Katie enjoyed years of peace and happiness in Denver.  She even bore and raised a litter of pups with little difficulty in 1987.  However, the tides began to change one morning when she snuck out of the house and explored the front yard.  She found the neighbor’s tiny show dogs in the next yard and wanted to play.  Katie unintentionally hurt one of the domestic dogs and the incident resulted in her ban from Denver, as well as a law banning all wolves from the city limits.  Mission:Wolf became Katie’s second home.  Katie spent many happy years living with Hota, another wolf-dog, and befriending the men at the refuge.

Katie was an indomitable spirit who fought off challenge after challenge.  While still a pup, she was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that caused a weakness in her hips and was predicted to result in paralysis.  Katie never succumbed to this obstacle and managed to stave off the recommendation for euthanasia.  She was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes in 1993, and with invasive Lymphoma cancer in 1996.  Despite her blindness and failing health, Katie never accepted that her body couldn’t keep up with her mind.  She played with and disciplined her caretakers while gulping down as much meat as she could carry until the very end.  On February 3, 2000, Katie passed away in the arms of her friends, but her memories and presence will forever continue to bring smiles to the faces of the people who knew her.