Shadowland Foundation

Three meticulously groomed Alaska timber wolf-hybrids padded through an audience of more than 50 guests Aug. 29 at the Enlightened Path Center in Palm Desert.

They even nuzzled a few, especially older people and a baby.

"That's natural," said Paul Pondella, their owner and founder of the Shadowland Foundation that has been established to educate future generations about the true nature of wolves and to ensure their survival. "They are attracted to older people and babies."

An experienced wolf rescuer and handler, Pondella and his wife Collette Duvall say their wolf trio "are the ambassadors of the species, especially to kids who will grow up to make policy decisions.

In a two-hour presentation that included a lecture and a bit of "play time," guests learned wolves don't bark, they howl, says Charlotte Rios of Palm Desert, who attended the special class.

"And don't look them in the eye," she said. "It makes them nervous."

The furry trio, Shadow and Allie, both four year-old-females, and Takoda, a six-month-old male, showed a playful side with their handlers.

"They were trained to roll over to have a tummy scratch," Rios said.

On the serious side, Collette explains the wolves have been shown how to "exercise their minds and socialize with other people and animals."

Although it's not their main activity, the wolves can work in movies and television, Paul said.

The wolves have two homes "a 40-acre training facility in Acton, which was evacuated during the recent fires" and their urban digs in Studio City where they sprawl on a big backyard lawn with Paul and Collette.

By  Jamie Lee Pricer
The Desert Sun