Fatal Attack: Wolf-Dog Hybrid Claims Life of Infant in Alabama

In Alabama, a three-month-old infant was tragically killed by a hybrid wolf-dog, according to the local police. The incident occurred in Chelsea, about 20 miles southwest of Birmingham. It is suspected that the baby died from injuries caused by the animal. A veterinarian euthanized the wolf-hybrid on the scene. The mayor of Chelsea expressed his condolences and called the death unfortunate and tragic. The police received a 911 call reporting an animal attack and rushed to the infant's home. Despite being taken to the hospital, the child could not be saved. The authorities described the animal as a wolf-hybrid that was kept as a pet by the infant's family. They are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. This is not the first such incident in the US, as a similar attack occurred in 2018 in Virginia. The International Wolf Center explains that a wolf-dog hybrid is the offspring of a domestic dog and a wolf that have mated. However, they are often confused with wolfdogs, which are domestic dogs with some wolf ancestry. The International Wolf Center also highlights the challenges of keeping a wolf hybrid as a pet due to their complex and unpredictable behavior. While federal law allows ownership of wolf hybrids in the US, many states have their own regulations, and in some states like Illinois, Michigan, and New York, it is illegal to own them. In Alabama, while there are rules for their care and confinement, it is not illegal to own a wolf-hybrid. In the UK, owning first-generation wolfdogs requires a license under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976, but owning a wolf-hybrid is legal as long as it is three generations removed from the original parent wolf.