Kira is 2 year old wolfdog in the Iberia Parish area. She's been making her way around public places since she was 3 months old, and some of her favorite places to frequent include the dog park in Lafayette near UL, PetSmart in New Iberia, and PetSmart in Lafayette as well as Fausse Point State Park. Being a wolfdog, there are many misconceptions about her breed, and Breed Specific Legislation, or
BSL, targets dogs like her as well as other breeds deemed "aggressive" or "vicious" (such as Bully breeds, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds just to name a few). Kira is here to prove that a dog's actions are not based solely on their breed. It's an owner's responsibility to train the dog and know both their own limitations as well as the dog's and work with them. By making herself a positive role model, we hope to cut the misconceptions of wolfdogs and show the FACTS about them instead. We also hope to educate the public (such as those who would like to own a wolfdog) on how to properly care for them as they require a lifestyle change and are not for the inexperienced. As far as I am aware, there is NO local training program that allows wolfdogs, so keep that in mind! (They are banned from all PetSmart related services, such as their training, grooming, and other facilities). And at least in Louisiana, if not in the entire United States, wolfdogs cannot legally be treated by a veterinarian unless they possess the proper licence to do so, so finding a veterinarian can prove challenging. A wolfdog is a commitment, not an accessory or bragging right! While Kira is friendly and approachable in public, she is like any other wolfdog around her content or higher: skittish, afraid of new things albeit also very curious, and part of a pack structure where handlers ALWAYS have to maintain dominance over her. She is a companion and not a pet, and it has taken thousands of hours to socialize and train her to act the way she does in public. Kira, so far, has been able to touch quite a few lives with her limited publicity of meeting new people in and around Iberia and Lafayette Parish areas. Quite a few people against wolfdogs have met her, and as of yet, not a one has NOT changed their mind at least about Kira--even those who at first seemed immovable from their point of view. Kira has made many human, canine, and feline friends in the short two years she has been alive, and I'm honored to know her and work with her as her handler and trainer. I look forward to the future together with her, where we can continue to spread the truth and let the fiction remain in the grave where it belongs. For those interested in wolfdogs, please feel free to send a message or comment. Education is vital for wolfdogs, and as a responsible handler, it is my duty to tell the truth, no matter how ugly or beautiful it may be. Thanks to all!
