TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- Wolf the husky, a dog from Western New York that sparked a major online outcry that peaked this weekend, is returning home to his family.
Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue has stepped in to help Wolf after a difficult few weeks.
"We will make sure that he is happy, we will make sure that he is comfortable," said Jennifer Wheeler, vice president of Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue.
It started Feb. 16, when the SPCA Serving Erie County began receiving calls about Wolf living outdoors, so they sent officers to check it out.
"The husky was active, alert, was not dehydrated, not showing signs of malnourishment. The structure in which the husky was residing was appropriate for the weather," said Gina Browning of the SPCA.
However, the concerned continued, even after police found nothing wrong.
"That owner's family decided that the threats that they were receiving, the harassing that was being done, it became too much," said Browning.
That's why Wolf's family surrendered him, and he was then taken to the SPCA. Browning said when the behavior and training staff started evaluating him, he attempted to bite, and they learned he had bitten on multiple occasions in the past - some serious.
"What we learned with that information on the dog's history combined with what we were learning with the dog on site, was the dog was not a candidate for general adoption," said Browning.
The SPCA then put a call out for rescue groups who could help, but the ones they heard from were either unable or unwilling to provide proper care for Wolf.
In the meantime, Wolf was deteriorating.
"We're watching an animal having a very hard time living indoors, that is manifesting itself in aggression, this animal is showing every sign of being under stress. Unfortunately, at one point, yes, euthanasia was being discussed," said Browning.
The SPCA didn't want to do that, but word spread quickly on social media that euthanasia was an option, and it triggered serious outrage. That continued while the SPCA was working with Wolf's previous owners and Buffalo Pug & Small Breed, but had to keep its discussions confidential at the request of those involved.
"Just because social media exists, the SPCA does not have the responsibility to put everything on it. There are different concerns here, there have been threats, there have been harassment, there have been death threats, and we need to be cognizant of that," said Browning.
Browning said the SPCA is partially responsible for only a portion of the story being told, and understands there was concern based on the information given.
"Did they have any right to bring it to the extreme some of them brought it to? Absolutely not," she said.
After meeting with Wolf and learning his family was excited about the chance to welcome him back, Wheeler said, "We believe it is absolutely the best outcome for this dog to go home to his family."
Wheeler said her organization has offered support to Wolf's family for at least the next year. Browning said with that backing, his owners feel more protected.