A man in the Greater Sudbury, Ont., community of Wahnapitae says his wolf-dog hybrids have found new homes.
Last month, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) told Bryton Bongard that he could not keep the pack of 16 wolfdogs he had owned since 2021 because they were illegal in Ontario, and officers would return in September to seize them.
At the time, Bongard said he was not told what would happen to the animals after they were seized, and he feared they would be euthanized.
Bongard, who lives on a rural property where he built a large enclosure for the wolf dogs, now says the MNR has agreed to spare the animals, and they will be taken to a new sanctuary centre being established near Sudbury.
“All 16 dogs go to the sanctuary together, and it’s within driving distance to Sudbury,” Bongard said.
“They haven’t informed me yet where the shelter is located yet, but that will come out later.”
Watch | Sudbury County Male Wolf Dog Hybrids:
Briton Bongard lives in rural Sudbury, Ont., with his pack of 16 wolf-dog hybrids. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is expected to seize them next month because hybrids are illegal in the province. Bongard says he’s ready to surrender his pets, but he’s worried they’ll be euthanized instead of taken to a sanctuary.
He added that the sanctuary has signed a contract with MNR to house the animals, but the enclosure they made is still under construction. He said that until the shelter is ready to take the dogs, he will retain custody of them and has been given permission to visit the pack when they are moved.
Bongard was initially told there were no sanctuaries capable of taking the wolfdogs in Ontario and they would likely have to be moved across the country. He explained that the MNR decided to keep them as a way to educate the public while also punishing him.
“So now they can use them as kind of an example for other people, like, ‘Here’s what their behavior is like, here’s what dogs can do, here’s what will happen to you if you get attached to these animals,'” Bongard explained.
He said he was relieved that the situation had been resolved positively, despite having to give up the wolf-dog hybrids.
“[I’m] very excited, very passionate,” Bongard said.
“Now that I know what the plan is, now that we’ve all sat down and had this conversation, I feel much more comfortable dealing with the ministry on this issue and working together going forward to help my animals go to a safer home.”
In addition to having to give up the animals, Bongard also had to pay a $5,500 fine. He said, despite everything, he doesn’t regret getting the dogs.
CBC News previously asked the MNR about regulations related to wolf-dog hybrids in the province and what will happen to these animals after they are confiscated.
“It is generally against the law to keep wildlife from Ontario as pets or to keep them in captivity,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement. “There are some exceptions that are carefully regulated under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997. As this is an active case, the MNR is unable to comment further.”
