Native wolves, wolfdogs find forever home at Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania – journal-news.net

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Updated: October 14, 2026 @ 12:58 am
A bonded pair of wolves wander through their enclosure, at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 6.
Visitors photograph and admire a wolf in one of the enclosures at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 6.
A wolfdog greets visitors to his enclosure at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 6.
A tour guide shares the history of the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania with visitors, on Oct. 6.

A bonded pair of wolves wander through their enclosure, at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 6.
Visitors photograph and admire a wolf in one of the enclosures at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 6.
A wolfdog greets visitors to his enclosure at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 6.
A tour guide shares the history of the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania with visitors, on Oct. 6.
LITITZ, Pa. — Only a two hour drive from the Eastern Panhandle lies a hidden gem for wolves and wolf lovers alike. The Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, located at 465 Speedwell Forge Road in Lititz, Pa., provides a forever a home for wolves and wolfdogs who have been bred in captivity.
Currently home to 53 gray wolves, red wolves and wolfdogs, the facility welcomes rescues from all walks of life, whether it be those saved from abusive situations, those surrendered due to the passing of their owners or those born in zoos that had to close their doors. As is the case for most animals raised in captivity, wolves and wolfdogs lack the ability to survive on their own, if released back out into the wild. Having a place they can be taken to, where they will be expertly cared for and provided with more than 80 acres of space to roam, is the best situation in which they could end up.
“Wolves and wolfdogs require a different level of care than domestic dogs. And that’s why we’re here. That’s why we exist — to give them a chance to live out their lives as themselves, to be free,” said Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania Education Coordinator Michelle Mancini. “We make sure they have all of the necessities — plenty of food, fresh water, cozy shelters — but we try to do more than that. To make sure they have a meaningful life, we pair them with a companion that they can share their lives with and we provide them with enrichment toys and treats. And, if they are ever injured or sick, we provide them with the best veterinary care possible.”
The sanctuary has welcomed rescues from all across the United States and Canada, since even before its founding in 1980 by William “Bill” and Barbara Darlington. Prior to its establishment, the couple ran a breeding and repopulation effort on their property for the gray wolf, which was listed as endangered in the U.S. from 1978 through 2021.
“Wolves had always been my parents’ passion and occupied a large part of their hearts,” said Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania President Dawn Darlington in the sanctuary’s 40th anniversary news release.
It eventually became clear to Bill and Barbara, that they could better serve the wolf population in a different way, after they opened their property up to become the home for a rescued wolf in 1976.
“In 1980, Pennsylvania laws changed: if you owned an exotic animal, you had to apply for a license and permit issued through the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Dad and Mom were granted a menagerie permit to keep their wolf and wolf-dog, and the Game Commission began contacting them with rescue requests, as it confiscated wolves and wolfdogs from illegal ownership,” Dawn said. “Thus, Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania came to be.”
The sanctuary gained a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation in 1993. It has since grown from being managed by members of the Darlington family alone, to being cared for by dozens of volunteers and Adopt-a-Wolf members.
“The sanctuary is not an ‘I’ but a ‘we.’ Many amazing individuals make up the team that keeps the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania flourishing,” Dawn said. “The staff and volunteers are exemplary in their passion to educate and care for our rescues, and to share their knowledge with our visitors.”
Tours and special events are open to the public, and are held on a regular basis throughout the year. Through these efforts, the sanctuary is able to share its work and the need for continued conservation efforts, with the public. Many states in the U.S. still have not recovered their native wolf populations, with West Virginia being among them. The gray wolf, joined by the bison and the mountain lion, are the only mammals native to the state, out of 70, that no longer exist in West Virginia.
Outside of the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, only four other sanctuaries like it exist on the East Coast, at: Howling Woods Farm in Jackson, N.J., Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, N.J., Shy Wolf Sanctuary in Naples, Fla. and Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Chipley, Fla. They and the 25 others on the West Coast and in the Midwest hope to continue their work for many years to come, providing a place of healing and belonging for animals that would otherwise, realistically, have nowhere to call home.
“We will continue to offer as natural a home to wolves and wolfdogs as we can, for as long as we have your support to do so,” Dawn said.
To learn more, visit https://wolfsanctuarypa.org/ or call 717-626-4617.
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