My boyfriend and I just moved in with his mom (they don't get along at all, and we're just doing this to save up money), and she has a 20-year-old pure-bred gray wolf in her backyard. She bought the wolf from Washington, originally captured in Utah, 20 years ago. The wolf currently lives in a tiny 5 by 10 ft area in the basement, separated from the rest of the house with a wood gate, with a doggy door that leads to the tiny and completely destroyed backyard (by him, of course). He is being fed on a diet of vegetables and cooked chicken, and occasional dog food. She is completely crazy and thinks that he is happy as her pet, and that he loves her. She comes out to look at him occasionally, and feeds him, and that's it. He whimpers whenever anyone passes by his gate. And the saddest part is that he smells so badly! He has always smelled badly, according to my boyfriend, dragging in the smell of dirt and rain into the basement, but recently he's been getting what looks to be open sores on his body and so the entire house has recently started to have an unbearable stench of decaying flesh (no exaggeration). She is old and paranoid, and has lost her sense of smell, so she accuses us of lying when we complain about the smell. We've tried to persuade her to put him down humanely, given his current state and the fact that he never should have been a pet in the first place, but she won't listen. She has nothing and no one left in the world besides him, as she lives a lonely existence, either working or watching TV or playing Solitaire.

I just can't take it anymore. It's absolutely inhumane and probably unethical to keep such a beautiful wild animal in a such a pathetic existence for over 20 years, to keep a pack animal with natural wolf instinct in a tiny space, where he can't see anyone or interact with anyone or anything. I feel so bad for him! And I'm really concerned about his sores. He is way too old, given that wolves in the wild live to 10 years at most. What should I do? Should I report him to Animal Humane Society, and have them come and put him down? Should I go to a vet and ask for some sort of a pill to put him down? Or should I just bear it, and try to live here as long as we can before going crazy? My conscience (and my sense of smell) is really getting to me! My boyfriend is up for anything I decide.

Note: we both just graduated and are living with her to save up money so that we can go to graduate school next year. We can't afford to be kicked out, and we can't let her find out that we had anything to do with this. Thank you for your responses!

That is really sad. If he has open sores, I would go the humane society and ask if they can do anything or if they can provide a number for you to call to report neglect and someone will take the dog away and put it in a nice place, or put it down if neccessary. His mother won't find out that you were the one who told. It's the right thing to do.

Not only is this inhumane and unethical, it is illegal. Please call the ASPCA, the poor guy needs help. It breaks my heart to read your story, I hope you do what is best for him, it seems you know in your heart what to do and just need a nudge! Make the call and let him have peace...

I'd contact animal control or the humane society. It definitely sounds like he's being cruelty treated and deprived of medical attention for his sores. It may not even be legal to own a wolf where you live in the first place.

Keeps a wolf in the back garden?

I would say just make sure you dont build your house with sticks or straw. Good luck!