Wolf-dog Liberty settles into new wolf sanctuary home

LITITZ, Pa. - The wolf-dog met the media Tuesday, panting but content.

The animal formerly known as Levi was introduced to the public with a new name - Liberty - to reflect his connection to Philadelphia, where he was loose in Pennypack Park from March until his capture July 3.

That's his third name in five months; when he was only a ghostly, lurking presence in the park, before anyone knew he was Levi, Liberty was actually called Penny. Life has been changing fast ever since for the young animal, believed to be around 10 months old.

Off dog food these days, Liberty is now eating raw meat, as befits a gray wolf-Malamute hybrid. The belief is, in fact, that he is significantly more wolf than dog - chromosomally connected to legendary moon-howling pack animals who live life on their own terms.

Beyond domesticity, Liberty is too cool for obedience school, and too dangerous to be outfitted with bandannas and expected to catch and return Frisbees like some slobbering Lab in the park.

Instead, he currently lives with his dignity intact at the 22-acre Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary, a private, nonprofit licensed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Liberty was taken there after being trapped by agents of the Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's APHIS Wildlife Services division.

The animal's owner, Kasey Lyons, who didn't have a permit for Liberty - then Levi - was visiting from Florida with the animal last March. Liberty had been a gift from Lyons to his former fiancee.

But love failed, and after the two broke up, the fiancee no longer wanted the wolf-dog. Liberty, collateral damage in the failed romance, suddenly found himself wandering Pennypack Park. It's not clear whether he escaped or was set loose, although unwanted hybrids are typically abandoned, wolf experts say.

On the hoof and all alone, Liberty survived on pet food he'd cleverly pilfered from yards, as well as on pizza and McDonald's burgers that neighbors said they threw him.

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Wolf-dog Liberty settles into new wolf sanctuary home