Kim DeFisher is the founder and president of Arctic Fox Daily (AFD), a non-profit wildlife rescue located in Williamson, New York.
AFD specializes in providing a permanent sanctuary for foxes that have been captive-bred or are non-releasable, as well as wolf dogs.
A Fascinating Creature
One day, Kim received a notification from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, indicating they were preparing to confiscate animals from a severe hoarding case.
Kim was asked if she could provide a home for Dakota, a black wolf dog.
“At that time, my experience with wolf dogs was minimal. I agreed to take Dakota in temporarily. When he stepped out of the vehicle, I was taken aback — he was massive and very agitated,” Kim recalled.
She recounted a vivid memory: they had to pull Dakota into his enclosure, and once inside, he seemed to understand he was now in a safe environment.
New Companion
Kim, as with all her other rescues, aimed to bond with Dakota in an effort to establish trust and connection.
To her surprise, the moment she approached him, he started leaping onto her shoulders and even showering her with affection.
I quickly developed a close connection with Dakota and realized, ‘This is for good’.
Dakota significantly transformed Kim’s life and work, leading her to rescue more wolf dogs.
Just three months after Dakota arrived, Kim prepared an entire acre for a new wolf dog enclosure.
However, Dakota was initially quite challenging.
Kim described him as mischievous and demanding, and she was astonished to see him take charge of both the rescue and the dwelling.
When Dakota first arrived, my father, who lives nearby, texted me one evening: ‘You’ve transformed the canine dynamics of our street’.
Whenever Dakota howled, he would inspire a chorus from local dogs who had never howled before, alongside the howls of coyotes in the surrounding woods.
@arcticfoxdaily Replying to @Chelsea 🖤 Awoooo 🐺❤️ #wildlife #rescue #sanctuary #fox #wolfdog #wolf #howl #animals #fyp ♬ original sound – Kimberly DeFisher
Kim chose to conduct a DNA test on Dakota, revealing that he was 55% gray wolf, in addition to being part Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, and Belgian Sheepdog.
There’s a common misconception that having wolf DNA means a wolf dog must be aggressive. In fact, the higher the wolf content in wolf dogs, the less likely they are to display aggressive behavior.
Kim assures us that, generally, wolves are flight animals. This means they only attack when absolutely necessary. In contrast, lower-content wolf dogs are more vocal about their displeasure.
Best Friends
As time went by, Kim’s bond with Dakota deepened and became unbreakable.
It was Dakota who ignited Kim’s passion for wolf dogs, leading her to rescue an increasing number of them.
