Bryton Bongard, a man who was worried his pack of 16 wolf-dog hybrids would be euthanized, has received assurance that the animals will be relocated to an Ontario sanctuary. The exact location is yet to be disclosed, but the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources has assured Bongard that the sanctuary will be within driving distance of his home in Wahnapitae, Ontario, just north of Sudbury.
Previously facing the grim possibility of his beloved grey and black wolf-dogs being “disposed of” if no sanctuary was found, Bongard’s fears were alleviated after a petition garnered support urging authorities to save the animals. Ontario law prohibits the keeping of native wildlife as pets or in captivity, except for certain facilities such as zoos and rehabilitation centers.
In a recent development, Bongard admitted guilt to illegally housing the wolf-dogs and was fined $5,500. He plans to utilize the fine to construct a new, spacious enclosure for the pack. Expressing relief and gratitude, Bongard emphasized his happiness upon learning that his animals will remain safe, a piece of information he had been eagerly awaiting for months.
Speaking of his intentions moving forward, Bongard, a butcher by profession, expressed his desire to continue providing meat scraps for the wolf-dogs’ sustenance and to visit them regularly. He shared his newfound sense of peace, stating, “We’re doing a lot better now. At least now at the end of the day, when they come for my dogs, I know they are going to be alive when they leave my property and I can go see them.”