The Apex Pack

KONA

Rescued 2015

Kona came from an owner who did everything in his power to give him the best life he could. He was very loved and well cared for. Having difficulty finding work in his field locally in Los Angeles, it became necessary for his owner to take work out of state where Kona could not join him. He looked diligently for a safe place for Kona to live, eventually finding Apex through friends in the wolfdog community.

Taboo immediately took this 14-month-old under her wing, and they became best friends. About a year later, Thor and Loki were rescued at 3½ weeks old and Kona helped Taboo in raising them.

Kona is a deeply sensitive, loving being who needs ample time when building relationships. He is also very proud and appreciates his boundaries being observed. Understanding how important trust and respect are to wolves and wolfdogs, we take extra care in understanding and fulfilling Kona’s needs which helps him in feeling safe and happy.

Currently, Kona lives with Ryder, who he also helped raise when she was rescued as a puppy. To this day, they have a loving “father/daughter-like” relationship. To become a part of Kona’s life and help with his on-going care, please click HERE.

THOR & LOKI

Rescued 2015

Thor and Loki were rescued in 2015 at the age of three and a half weeks old from a breeder being shut down in a CA county where breeding wolfdogs is illegal. Their mother, being very sick and needing emergency care, was unable to nurse. She was immediately taken to intensive care where she stayed for a week and a half, and the pups were brought to Apex. It is very rare for a rescue to receive such young pups and it took around-the-clock care from the entire Apex Team to bring to health and raise these two characters. Today, Thor and Loki are both excellent ambassadors for their kind, dispelling fear and misconceptions, and teaching people of all ages how wonderful these magnificent creatures are.

Thor’s nature is sweet and gentle. He loves people and will never pass up a snuggle. Although he suffers from inflammatory bowel disease, Thor has an adventurous spirit and loves to run and explore on his daily hikes. Thor’s gentle nature extends to his packmates as well, being the only one who gets along with the entire pack. Thor’s IBD is managed with a hypoallergenic diet and daily medication, controlling the condition and allowing him a full, healthy life.
Loki’s a little shyer of people but is definitely the comedian when strangers aren’t around. Living up to his name, he can also be a bit of a bully but has recently started exhibiting a more grounded, benevolent style of leadership with the younger pack members. Loki also suffers from immunosuppression resulting in extreme environmental allergies. He receives immunotherapy which helps immensely.

These boys are living their best lives despite their conditions thanks to their on-going sponsors. To help in caring for Thor and/or Loki, please click HERE.

RIGGS

Rescued 2016

On a dark night in 2016, young Riggs was seen roaming a suburban Oklahoma neighborhood and animal control was called. They darted him and took him directly to a local gassing facility where he was given 48 hours before death. A colleague reached out to us hoping that we could help and put us in touch with Freedom’s Song Wolf Rescue and Sanctuary in Oklahoma. Not having the space to rescue him themselves, they were working feverishly to save him before his euthanization by reaching out to as many contacts as they could. With the extremely short amount of time given, we immediately decided to bring him to Apex. Within hours, we rented a van and three of our team members started off on the 19-hour journey to Oklahoma. Once picking him up from the gassing facility, the team drove back without stopping. He arrived extremely malnourished and scared. He was also a complete wildling with little socialization but incredibly loving. The team – human and wolfdog – immediately went to work on helping the little guy acclimate. Today, Riggs is still a wildling, teasing and testing the rest of his pack relentlessly, and incredibly loving, never missing an opportunity to spend quality time with his human pack. Riggs lives with his chosen life-partner Selena – who seems to be the only one who can keep him in check!

Although extremely healthy, Riggs has an extremely high metabolism, requiring an extra amount of calories. Because of his sponsors, we’re able to afford the extra food required for his body to keep him healthy. If you would like to help with Riggs’ on-going care, please click HERE.

RYDER

Rescued 2018

In the late months of 2018, Apex joined forces with several other small non-profit rescues to save over 180 wolfdogs and northern breed mixes from an out-of-control breeding facility in Northern California. It was one of the largest rescue missions of its kind and, in the end, with only a 30-day window and everyone working around the clock, every animal was successfully saved before the county came in to euthanize them all. Ryder was one of those 180.
At only a couple of weeks old, Ryder’s mother killed several of her littermates and tried to kill her. (Mothers in stress or who are sick will sometimes do this). Luckily, she was unsuccessful with Ryder but her neck still needed stitches. The first group of animals Apex transported to safety was made up of all of the mothers, puppies, and pregnant females. Because of the situation with her mother, Ryder couldn’t ride with her and the rest of her siblings. Instead, she howled and howled a tiny baby howl in a crate by herself the first leg of the journey. The Apex team couldn’t take it so they brought her up front to ride with them the rest of the way, hence the name “Ryder”. Ryder slept curled up in one of the team member’s laps for the next 700 miles.

When Ryder arrived at the rescue that would rehab and readopt them, she tested positive for a debilitating disease and had to remain in isolation for six weeks while she received treatment. Luckily, she never exhibited any serious signs of the illness and gained full recovery. By that point, the entire Apex team had fallen in love with this little survivor and knew she would make a perfect addition to the pack. Ryder’s strength and independent, feisty personality brings us all so much joy, earning her the nickname “Baby Boss”. She reminds us daily of what feats can be accomplished when we work together. To become a part of our Baby Bosses life, please click HERE.

SELENA

Rescued 2019

Selena was found living in the woods near a rural neighborhood in Memphis, TN. She was discovered by people walking their dogs in the area when she started coming out to play with them but being so shy and skittish, she could never be caught. Suffering from mange and starvation, the neighborhood became concerned for her wellbeing so they reached out to Amy Goad, Director of Sunny Meadows Safe Haven for Pets. The Sunny Meadows team immediately went to work trying to catch what they described as a little “ninja”. But it was finally Mary Joy, Amy’s granddog, who was able to convince Selena to “allow” her rescuers to leash her and lead her into a crate. It was immediately obvious that there was something different about Selena - that, perhaps, she wasn’t just a husky. They took Selena back to the rescue where they nurtured her back to health but the rescue never felt they could truly give her what she needed, being a wolfdog. Finally, they made the tough decision to find a permanent home for her where she could be with other wolfdogs and have the life they felt she deserved. When we received the rescue breakdown through our national rescue network, we knew she would fit in beautifully at Apex and she has. Selena is shy when it comes to humans but given time, bonds deeply with them and then becomes a big goofball. She is both confident and loving with her pack mates, having chosen Riggs as her life-companion and happily playing with the younger pack members.

When rescued, we discovered Selena had a broken toe which was causing her pain. It was agreed upon by her vets that the toe needed to be amputated. It’s because of Selena’s sponsors that were able to afford the surgery and post-care. Now Selena is able to hike, play, and live her life without pain. If you would like to support Selena’s ongoing care, please click HERE.

NEO

Rescued 2019

In 2019, Neo lost his family and his home because they lost everything due to the COVID crisis. As they rebuild their lives, we are grateful that we are able to help by giving him a forever home. Neo was never fully socialized, only bonding with his owner and the owner’s oldest son so when he came to Apex, he was extremely fearful. It has been an absolute honor being part of Neo’s life and watching him grow at Apex. It has been a slow process for him but with baby steps, Neo settled in, accepted the team as his family and continues developing deep bonds with many of us, and has become the leader of his own adopted family.

When Neo met Rogue, they fell in love. Not wanting to be separated, they began sharing an enclosure. When Strider came along, the couple made it very clear that they wanted him with them so we expanded their enclosure so the three of them could live together comfortably. Strider, at 6 months old, began testing his packmates including Neo and Rogue. Neo, stepped into a fatherly role, gently teaching Strider about respect and Strider willingly learned. It was incredible to watch first-hand.

Neo is truly the gentlest being we have ever met. He continues to develop a wisdom worthy of a leader yet exudes a playful innocence that melts your heart. He’s also a wonderful peacemaker. To support Neo’s on-going care and become a part of his life, please click HERE.

ROGUE

Rescued 2020

Rogue was bought as a puppy from a breeder by a couple in Oregon with the intention of reselling her on Craig’s List as a breeding female to make some money. She was being kept in a crate where she was never let out so she was being forced to live in her own waste. When two sisters running a local coffee shop were told this by a customer, they were livid. They decided to purchase her in order to save her from a life of exploitation and then find a safe place for her to go. Once getting her home, they realized that she was completely atrophied, having never been exercised or even walked. She was also terrified of humans not having been socialized. The sisters began working with her while looking for her new home. A little time passed and the thought of keeping her crossed their minds. They had had a wolfdog before but they now just didn’t have the right lifestyle or environment needed for a wolfdog to thrive. Then they found Apex. They reached out and told us her story and we prepared to welcome Rogue to the pack.

Rogue is small but mighty and absolutely adorable. She loves to run zoomies and wrestle with her packmates and is fiercely protective of her adopted family Neo and Strider. She is funny and sweet and brings joy to anyone lucky enough to know her. To support Rogue’s well-being and become a part of her life, please click HERE.

GREY & PESCI

Rescued 2021

Grey and Pesci are two of the Big Bear 6 litter rescued in 2021 from an abandoned backyard breeding facility in Big Bear, CA. The breeder texted his handyman one day telling him that he had a family emergency, he wasn’t returning so to put the house up as an Airbnb and get rid of the animals however he wanted. With numerous animals including nine adult wolfdogs and an unknown number of puppies, Apex was called for help. The handyman and his friend had been trying to care for them but didn’t know how or what to do with them. Steve and a team drove up with kibble, raw meat, and puppy formula with the intention of cataloguing the animals for our rescue network to start finding placement for them. When he arrived, what he saw caused an immediate change of plans. The filth the animals were forced to live in was unfathomable. The puppies – the ones that were still alive – would not survive so Steve collected them all in a box and loaded them in the truck – all 15 of them. A rescue partner from our network agreed to care for one litter of nine and Apex cared for the litter of six, all only 5½ weeks old. It was an epic endeavor caring for six little boys and finding appropriate homes for them all. Well, all except two. The last two were the shyest and extremely bonded. We decided that if we couldn’t find a place better than Apex that would take both boys, they would stay at Apex. And then the decision was made for us. Loki stepped into the nanny role and adopted the boys. He wouldn’t let them out of his site. He played with them, cleaned them, slept with them, kept them in line. And with that, Loki blossomed. He discovered his gift and we wanted to support him. These were his puppies now. And that was that.

Grey is definitely the empath. Since he was tiny, he was always sensitive to how his siblings were feeling and would care for them. Whether bathing them or guarding them when they were scared, he was their caretaker. He is still like that with Pesci and his other packmates. He’s also a great peacemaker and is showing signs of becoming a strong leader.

Pesci is the little tough guy, having been the runt of his litter. He’s also very sensitive but covers it with bravado. He can be a little bit of a bully but then sulks if called out. He’s very shy of humans but can be playful and silly especially with his brother, romping around for hours, then curling up with him for a nap.

The litter was abandoned by their mother at birth. Not having the chance to nurse, they missed the opportunity to get the nutrients they needed for development. This may be the reason several of them are rock-eaters and one of them was extremely sick as a puppy and is now losing his eyesight. Grey required two massive surgeries to remove large rocks from his digestive tract costing $15,000. Both Grey and Pesci are receiving supplements to help with their absorption of nutrients to curb their desire to eat rocks. The only reason Grey is alive today is because of his sponsors making the surgeries possible. If you would like to support Grey and/or Pesci’s ongoing care, please click HERE.

STRIDER

Rescued 2021

Strider was purchased as a puppy from a breeder by an 18-year-old man in Texas. When the man discovered that wolfdogs were illegal in his county, he tried killing him by smashing him in the head with a hammer. He hit the 3½ month old puppy so hard his skull cracked in half and he became unconscious. When the man discovered he hadn’t killed him, he called our colleagues Plan B to Save Wolves asking what to do. He was directed to take him to the ER immediately where he was saved. Once stable, another rescue in CA had him driven out for 24-hour medical supervision. After several months of care and recovery, they reached out to Apex. Now physically healed, Strider needed to heal emotionally and the best way to do that was with a pack, not to mention we had a couple of pups his age to play with. We knew we could give Strider the proper environment and care he would need to heal so we agreed to take him.

At first, Strider proved to be a little bit of a bully with Grey and Pesci but once being adopted by Neo and Rogue, he began to learn from them how to play respectfully.

At a year old, Strider’s skull was x-rayed and it was completely healed. Today, Strider is healthy both physically and mentally and is living his best life with his little wolf family. Everyday he continues to blossom, gaining confidence and trust of his human pack and we couldn’t be more grateful to be his human family and give him the life he deserves. To help us in giving Strider the best life possible, please click HERE.

REX & JADE

Rescued 2018, brought to apex 2022

Rex and Jade are two of the Indiana Four rescue of 2018. Four siblings escaped with many others from a breeder’s facility in Indiana and were running around the neighborhood. Animal control was able to catch the four and take them to the pound where they stayed for several months. As their euthanization date approached the animal control officer began reaching out to wolfdog rescues in the hope of saving their lives. They had suffered so much only to die? The officer couldn’t bear it. In fact, she was so upset at having to euthanize them that she said she would quit her job if she was made to do so. Apex started looking for possible placement for the four and just in time, on the day they were scheduled to be euthanized, we were able to report that we had placement for them, not to euthanize them.

The four were transported to their new homes in Los Angeles. While one home “foster failed”, the other reached out during Covid letting us know that because of difficult circumstances, they would no longer be able to care for Rex and Jade. We had always agreed that if things didn’t work out with the four, that Apex would take them so we, of course, agreed to bring them to Apex and started building their enclosure.
For whatever reason, Rex and Jade have remained somewhat feral, not trusting humans, so we continue working with them slowly and patiently on building trust by sitting with them in their enclosure. They play with each other, howl with the pack, and continue showing curiosity when we’re in their enclosure. Everything is on their terms and we will do everything we can to make sure they are happy and healthy and know they are safe.

When we rescued the four, Rex was emaciated and riddled with mange. He required treatment that was made possible by our donors. It took some time but with the treatment and a healthy diet, he was brought back to health. If you would like to become a part of Rex and/or Jade’s life, become a sponsor by clicking HERE.

VESPER

Rescued 2022

Vesper's family was in a desperate situation. Being faced with a long-term family emergency overseas, they were forced to make the difficult decision to find placement for this beautiful yearling. Having only two weeks left to find placement for her, they desperately reached out to our national rescue network for help and Apex answered the call.

Being a high-energy youngster, Vesper needs patience and lots of socializing and energy-burning. Grey has stepped up in helping out with that, becoming her best friend and playing with her for hours at a time. Although very shy of strangers, she’s incredibly loving and loves being around her humans but getting her to settle down long enough for snuggles is a feat! She’d rather run and play! To become a part of Vesper’s life and care, please click HERE.

JAMES BOND

rescued 2022

James was taken to the Placer County Shelter in Northern California by a man who said he had found him roaming free and caught him. We'll never know if this is the truth or not (as it's quite difficult catching a roaming wolfdog!) but James was very lucky. He was well taken care of by a loving team of staff and volunteers while there. They also worked hard to find a safe place for him to go. While at the shelter, James proved to be quite unusual. It is common for wolves and wolfdogs to shut down in shelters but James was the opposite. The constant noise and stress didn't seem to bother him at all. He played in the run with the volunteers and even spent ample time hanging out in the Animal Control Officer's office! When we saw how easy-going and confident he was, it occurred to us that James may be the perfect companion for our very bossy, dominant Vesper. At the time, James didn't have a name but we knew if he and Vesper got along, he would HAVE to be named James Bond as Vesper was James Bond's "femme fatal" in Casino Royal! Well, we couldn't have been more right! Upon their first meeting, it was love at first sight, and today, the happy couple is thriving.

James is very outgoing and loves people which helps Vesper in overcoming her shyness of people. He's also respectful of the elder pack members which has allowed him to make many friends amongst the pack. Oh, yes, and if you're wondering, the love birds would like to be referred to as "Jesper".

RAMA

RESCUED 2023

Rama was rescued in 2023 at a year and a half old. Wolfdogs are notorious for being incredible escape artists and as Rama was maturing, he was becoming more and more difficult to handle. Rama's family was no longer able to contain him. He escaped the yard daily and roamed the neighborhood, putting him in grave danger. Rama is now safe and thriving as an Apex Pack member and has quickly become one of our top ambassadors melting the hearts of everyone he meets.

ROCKY

rescued in 2023

Rocky was used by a man to breed wolfdogs and when he no longer wanted him, he dumped him in a high-kill shelter. Rocky was slated for euthanization so Apex pulled him as fast as possible to avoid him from being killed and brought him back to the sanctuary. With the Apex sanctuary being at capacity, the plan was to assess his personality and behavior to determine if he would be comfortable in a qualified home environment. Rocky was Apex's first official "foster". Rocky was also Apex's first (and last) official "foster FAIL"!

Rocky is an absolute love bug with a huge personality and lots of energy. After some time looking for and not finding the right home for him, we decided to test him out with Rama, who also is an absolute love but with a huge personality and lots of energy! Who knew? Maybe they'd be a good match for each other! 

At first, Rama tested Rocky on hikes and Rocky wasn't thrilled. We weren't sure they'd become friends but then on a hike one day, they both went into play stance and that was it! They started to play and they haven't stopped since! Rocky moved in with Rama and their bromance is magical! They are truly best buds and we're so glad that Apex is Rocky's forever home because we adore him!

Now Rocky and Rama are two of our top ambassadors! They both love to travel, love adventure, and love people!

TABOO

Taboo was rescued by Paula and Steve in 2010 while they volunteered at a local wolfdog rescue. Taboo’s owner lost his job during the recession and then his house, forcing his family to give up everything and move into a small apartment where wolfdogs were not allowed. Not being able to find a new home for her, he told a neighbor that he was afraid he would have to take her to a shelter. The neighbor contacted the rescue immediately for help.

When Taboo was rescued, she was only a year old. Because of her wild nature, she had spent a lot of time tied to a tree in the backyard. Paula and Steve took her under their wings and jumped to the task of socializing her, which was not easy. Not having much exposure to the outside world, Taboo was afraid of many things and lacked confidence. Eventually, Paula and Steve adopted her full-time and she became part of their family.

Since then, Taboo has grown into a confident, loving leader, taking on the Alpha or “mama” role of the Apex pack, guiding and teaching the others proper canine etiquette. She also has the ability to be gentle and playful with creatures of all sizes.

MERLIN

Merlin was rescued from Phoenix, AZ by Steve and Paula while working at a local wolfdog rescue. He had been raised and cared for by a very responsible, loving wolfdog owner who began to suffer from a debilitating illness that hindered his ability to care for Merlin. As he became weaker, Merlin instinctively felt the need to step into the Alpha position and became more and more difficult to handle. Merlin continued his challenging behavior once arriving at the rescue. Perhaps it was his observing the connection between Steve and his owner when being picked up, but Merlin immediately bonded with Steve. Over the last few years, Merlin’s bond with Paula and Steve and the Apex Team has deepened, allowing him to learn to trust and love.

Merlin’s love of people shines through and every day he gains confidence and makes new friends of all ages.

SARGE

Rescued 2016

Sarge lost his home in Oregon in 2016 at the age of seven due to a domestic situation. Right before the family moved out of the house, he fell from the top of a children’s jungle gym in the backyard, severely breaking his back right leg. The family was unable to take him with them and, because of recent circumstances, couldn’t afford the surgery required, so he was forced to live alone in the back of the vacated house in a 6×6 kennel to prevent him from moving too much. For over a month, a family member would stop by once a day to care for him while they desperately looked for a new home for Sarge. That’s when Apex received notice from their national wolfdog rescue network. He was a difficult rescue because of the expensive surgery that was needed and no one was coming forward. Time was running out for Sarge. If no one rescued him soon, he would have to be taken to the shelter where he would be put to sleep. Apex was not in a position financially to take an animal under these conditions, but the clock was ticking and we couldn’t stand by and not do something. So we made the decision to take a leap of faith and rescue him. Just days before he was to be euthanized, we picked him up and brought him home to Apex. As soon as our community learned of his story, they came together to help and with one special angel named Barbara from Sedona, AZ, Sarge was able to get the surgery he needed. He had an excellent surgeon who was able to restructure his leg with a titanium plate. Sarge began rebuilding his strength with gentle walks and after six months of rehab, he was able to run free in the hills chasing rabbits. Sarge passed away at the ripe old age of 15 and a half years old due to old age. He was best known for being a grumbly old man and bossy snuggler which made everyone who met him laugh and fall in love. We’re so grateful that we were able to save him and give him a second chance at life – an amazing life. It was a true honor having him as part of our family. If you’d like to sponsor the pack in honor of Sarge, please click HERE.