Wolf Dogs or No? DNA Results Are In for Dogs Captured in Warwick Last Month

Remember when “rare black Eastern coyotes” were spotted in Rhode Island and it was discovered shortly after that they were simply dogs?

The Warwick Animal Shelter recently ran a DNA test on both dogs, and the results proved both Bella and Libby are illegal in the state of Rhode Island.

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We reported back in April when Warwick mayor, Frank Picozzi, announced that the animals seen around town were a pair of puppies whose owner had moved away and left his former dogs in the care of a neighbor. They got away from this neighbor and struck fear in community members because of their wolf-like appearance.

Picozzi told the community of the town’s plan to test the dogs after officials believed they may be dog-wolf hybrids.

The results are in. Under the care of Warwick Animal Shelter, Bella (formerly named Willow) turned out to be 44.5% Gray Wolf, 27% German Shepherd, 23.4% Alaskan Malamute and 5.1% Siberian Husky.

Her sister, Libby (aka Wiley), turned out to be 57% Gray Wolf, 18.5% German Shepherd Dog, 18.3% Alaskan Malamute and 6.2% Siberian Husky.

“Can’t say I am too surprised on this one, based upon her behavior only, mischievous girl,” a shelter worker said.

These findings conclude that both Bella and Libby are unadoptable in Rhode Island as dog-wolf hybrids are illegal in the state.

The two were transferred to Red Riding Hood Rescue Project, a nonprofit wolfdog rescue in Ohio dedicated to providing rescue, sanctuary and lifetime support to wolfdogs in need.

Luckily, Bella and Libby can stay together and lead a more relaxed life after a crazy few weeks in the Ocean State.