Painting with Wolves
By Jacqueline Harris

Make-A-Wish Foundation told me that that the terminally-ill boy’s greatest desire was to see real wolves. Watching him as he sat stiffly, surrounded by our wolves, I had my doubts. Trying to act brave, but keeping his arms tucked tightly against him, he looked uncomfortable and afraid. I stood to the side, noticing the wolves seemed to sense this boy was gravely ill. They had formed a protective circle around him, as they sat or lay nearby.

Resignedly, I was about to suggest we call it a day. But Odin, a young, fierce-looking wolf, suddenly arose and stretched. He walked up behind the boy, sniffed the baseball cap covering a head bald from chemotherapy, and licked him on the ear. I snapped a picture of Odin licking the boy’s ear, and the boy finally giggling and smiling. The rest of the day was full of questions, wolf touching, and joy. Thus began CareAgain. (See photographs on the centre pages).

I have worked with wolves for two decades and still learn from them. They have come to me from horrible situations, mostly due to human stupidity and arrogance. I have never regretted taking in any of my charges, no matter how much furniture and fine things they have stolen, eaten, or destroyed. It is a rare honour to be allowed to glimpse their world and share a part of their lives. I do not pretend to be one of their pack; I am ‘Food Woman’, a high honour indeed! When a wolf recognises you as someone worthy of their attention you feel special. When you are a child who has suffered abuse, neglect, or perhaps been dumped into the foster-care system (due to parents who are alive, but find drugs or other vices more important than they do you), being acknowledged by the wolf is cathartic. The CareAgain wolf pack sees the planned visits as entertainment. It is up to humans to perform for them, not the other way around! If not sufficiently impressed, they often fade into the woods or rock formations of their compound, leaving the uncomprehending visitor behind.

At CareAgain we teach by humane example. When an animal is given love, respect, and allowed to live in a comfortable, natural manner, it shows in his actions, in his health, in his personality. Children often notice things that might elude the adult: ‘Look, that big wolf is letting the little wolf eat first! Why doesn’t he take it away – he’s bigger and he could!’ Yes, but he is also the father of that smaller wolf, and would starve before letting the little one go away unfed. ‘Why is that one going up to all the other wolves, and rubbing against each one?’ Because he wants to acknowledge every wolf in the family, to let them know each one is important.

Wolves are wonderful art subjects. If the visiting child is not comfortable doing one of our art projects he or she can use a camera. Some of the wolves seem to understand the camera, and strike poses. Others understand how focused the photographer is, never noticing the camera-case disappearing over the hill. Chasing after it is futile, but often a fair trade will work, such as raw bacon – so long as you drop your ‘trade item’ first.

Old Merlin was originally brought here as a distemper case, ‘to be made comfortable for his last few days’ (which became fourteen healthy years!). When we received Dante, a young male wolf who had been poisoned, Merlin adopted him as his own. Dante, blinded and extremely ill from the poison, was too terrified for medical care. Nothing could medically improve his condition, so we just tried to keep him comfortable until he died. Merlin provided the rest. Dante was a big, beautiful, black animal, so gentle. I once saw a hummingbird fly right under his giant paw, startling him awake. Curious, he raised his leg and allowed the little bird to fly free. To think that someone got a thrill out of poisoning him speaks horribly for Man. Watching this young animal wasting away was hard. Merlin never left his side. When Dante finally died, Merlin dug a small depression over Dante’s grave, so he could sleep with his muzzle in the hole, trying to be as close to his beloved Dante as possible. Merlin aged overnight after Dante’s death. His once black fur, now grey, turned white. He mourned Dante until he joined him a year later.

Games and changes

Linus, a black wolf, is our resident comedian. While awaiting a repairman who was terrified of animals, Linus suddenly appeared with white paint smeared over half his face. Facing this silent wolf, who appeared to be wearing warrior-paint for the occasion, the man refused to enter, and never returned.

The wolves create games. In winter, we have seen them sliding down snowy hills with front paws planted on perhaps a shoe, back legs propelling them forward. If given a road-kill deer, often one wolf will run with the deer’s head, the others pretending to chase ‘the prey’.

When I see the magnificence and family unity of these creatures, or behold the wondrous changes they can effect in children whose own lives have been filled with tragedy, I cannot comprehend how Man can target such beings for sport and slaughter. Programmes such as the current aerial slaughter of wolves in Alaska, or trapping entire wolf families that have existed for decades just outside Denali National Park’s boundaries, are only a few examples of such human atrocities. Such acts must be prohibited, before the wolves are gone forever.

Meanwhile, in a small corner of the Rocky Mountains, CareAgain will continue to provide for the special wolves who come our way. They will be given the chance to live good lives and enhance the lives of those who meet them. We hope that the more the world becomes aware of the incredible family nature of these animals, and of the unspeakable acts still done to them, the more that will be done to protect them.

• US readers: If you are aware of a child or teenager who might benefit from coming to CareAgain, please feel free to contact us: CareAgain, P.O. Box 4396, Woodland Park, CO 80866-4396. Tel: (719) 748-3780 (USA)