Local wolf-dog sanctuary gives Miami University students rare wildlife care exposure – Journal-News.com

Miami University student Saydee Walton, who is majoring in zoology, gets a grateful kiss from one of the hybrid wolf-dogs she volunteers to care for at a Middletown-based sanctuary for the rare species. She is part of Miami’s Center for Career Exploration and Success, which partners with the university giving students volunteer and internship experiences. (Contributed)
Miami University student Saydee Walton, who is majoring in zoology, gets a grateful kiss from one of the hybrid wolf-dogs she volunteers to care for at a Middletown-based sanctuary for the rare species. She is part of Miami’s Center for Career Exploration and Success, which partners with the university giving students volunteer and internship experiences. (Contributed)
A local wolf-dog sanctuary is giving Miami University students a rare opportunity to interact with the hybrid species while adding to their class credits through volunteer work.
Miami students studying zoology and other academic fields are now participating in a learning sessions via the university’s Center for Career Exploration and Success for internships and volunteer opportunities.
The CCES’ new “Into the Wild” program has participating students tending to the rare hybrid wolf-dogs at a Middletown-based sanctuary, said Miami officials.
The “Red Riding Hood Rescue Project,” which is also known as “The Red” in Middletown includes 20 acres of specially zoned, state-sanctioned forest where students help erect fenced in areas for the wolf-dogs as well as interact with the animals while assisting in their care, said school officials.
Saydee Walton, a second-year student majoring in Zoology, hopes to become a veterinarian or work at a zoo someday.
In mean time, she and her classmates volunteer work at the wolf-dog sanctuary provide career skills exposure to help her build her skill base.
Wolf-dogs are the interbred offspring of various types of wolves and canines either through natural means in the wild or planned, captive breeding programs.
Walton described the program as “a great experience and I plan to spend a lot of my time volunteering and, in the future, interning at this nonprofit.”
Walton said she helped set up fences of future wolf-dog enclosures and with the construction of a new house for one of the wolves, Luna, “and I also helped with painting that enclosure during an independent visit to the sanctuary.”
“From these experiences, I have learned a lot about working with woodworking and how to behave around animals that aren’t as social as the typical household pets.”
Susan Vogt, president of The Red Riding Hood Rescue Project and a steering committee member of the Big Bad Rescue Network, called the partnership a wonderful arrangement of “needs meeting needs.”
“We have an opportunity to help Miami students interested in the animal science field get hands-on experience with large carnivores and build a resume that can help launch their careers,” said Vogt. “In exchange, we are blessed with dedicated, responsible people passionate about our mission.”
Vogt said that “finding the right people has been one of our biggest hurdles, but the partnership with Miami University has met the need.”
“We can teach them many things about animal care, feeding, enrichment, and protocols at our facility but we also like to expose our interns to behind-the-scenes opportunities at other facilities, with other animals, or shadowing our vet team. We may be fully volunteer run, but we truly want to help build valuable resume experience.”
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