A Colorado family is battling for their right to have their dog, “Capone” for 10 years back after the Aurora Animal Control claimed he was a wolf hybrid and refused to return him.
Owning wolf hybrids — a cross between a domestic dog and a wolf — is illegal in the city of Aurora. And if a DNA test finds that Capone — a dog adopted from the county animal shelter by an Aurora family a decade ago — is part wolf, he could be sent away to a wolf hybrid sanctuary or worse, euthanized.
Capone’s owner, Tracy Abbato, told The Denver Channel she’s confident her dog is no wolf. When she adopted him, the shelter classified him as a German shepherd mix, she said.
The unfortunate incident took place on February 24th, their dog hopped over the fence and got picked up by animal control, and his return home has been refused based on the facility’s suspicion that he is actually a wolf hybrid.
The Abbato family adopted Capone from the Adams County Animal Shelter nearly 10 years ago where he was listed as a German Shepherd mix. For almost a decade, Capone has been a member of the family, sleeping in the family home, playing with his canine brothers, and living a wonderful life with the only family he’s ever known.
Now, the Aurora County Animal Control center claims Capone is part-wolf, and due to laws around exotic animals, they are refusing to return him to his family. He is being held until the results of his DNA test come back.
“It’s hard for me. It’s hard for my kids,” Abbato said. “He’s a family member. We’ve had him for almost 10 years. We miss him.”
“It’s been real painful,” said Abbato’s 11-year-old daughter, Ciara. “I hope they let us keep him because he’s really special to me.”
Abbato says DNA results show her dog Capone is not part wolf as Aurora Animal Control suspected.
“The results came back NEGATIVE. Not an ounce of wolf,” Abbato told the outlet.
City of Aurora spokesman Michael Bryant said he couldn’t comment on the DNA test because Capone is mired in an ongoing legal case. Capone will remain at the Aurora Animal Shelter until a court can determine whether he goes home.
The dog’s owners were charged with keeping a wild, exotic or dangerous animal, which was related to suspicion the dog was a wolf hybrid.
While a DNA test might have proven that Capone is 100 percent dog, his owners still face charges of keeping an aggressive or dangerous animal, allowing him to roam at large, failure to obtain an animal license, and failing to make sure the dog had a rabies vaccine.
“I don’t understand,” Abbato said. “This dog has a loving, caring home. People who abuse dogs, leave them outside in 2-degree weather, how do they still have their dogs?”
KMGH reports that Aurora Animal Control recently issued a statement:
Aurora Animal Services ordered the DNA test after its experts observed the animal’s behavior, mannerisms and physical characteristics and believed them to be consistent with those of a wolf hybrid. If the animal is confirmed to be a wolf hybrid and a judge grants ownership to Aurora Animal Services, the primary goal would be to locate a sanctuary that specializes in such animals and can provide the animal with a new home. Aurora Animal Services is committed to balancing the needs of people and animals in the city of Aurora by providing humane shelter, treatment and placement of animals, and part of that mission involves enforcing the city’s animal laws.
Sources: OpposingViews, KDVR, KMGH