The Wolves of Medicine Wheel Lodge

The Wolves of Medicine Wheel Lodge

by Amber Polo

HealingWolf’s Medicine Wheel Lodge is a magical place. On ancient land once a sacred gathering place for Native Americans, later Morgan Earp's stagestop, a school, a home, and, for the last seventeen years, a sanctuary for wolves. 

HealingWolf
Healing Wolf believes wolves are our teachers. She has raised Gray Wolves, Arctic Wolves, Timber Wolves, and now Tundra Wolves. Iroquois on her mother's side, HealingWolf received her name from her father when at a young age he found her healing a wolf. Since then wolves and all wildlife seek her out. She believes herself privileged to have worked with wolves since rescuing her first wolf in Tennessee. 


Honoring all tribes, traditions, and relations, HealingWolf is foremost a teacher.

She and her husband Jon Bickis established Medicine Wheel Lodge in Rimrock, Arizona as a gathering place for people to slow down, learn, share, and heal, interacting with these magnificent ambassadors of nature.

The Wolves of Medicine Wheel Lodge 

• Dakota, after serious abuse at a fur farm, came to Medicine Wheel Lodge from a shelter where he would have been euthanized. Rescued at 1 1/2 years, he’s had serious medical issues but is now a huge healthy adult male who’s learned he is safe forever.
• Kira, an abused female now 6, has slowly overcome her fear of men and serious distress issues.
• Mahota and Jhertoma (Tundra wolves) were rescued as 4 month-old-pups after their mother was killed. With no history of human abuse, they are true ambassadors of wolf magic.
  
  All four wolves came to HealingWolf through an informal network of wolf rescuers.

Education for Animal Rescue
HealingWolf considers herself a voice for animals and dreams of a time when all animals wild and domestic are safe. A supporter of wolf reintroduction and all forms of animal rescue, she speaks strongly against the breeding of wolves and wolfdogs for pets and sale. Wolves and part-wolves are not pets. You can’t “own” any wild animal. She urges people who want an amazing companion to seek a needy one in their local shelter.

Caring for wolves and wolfdogs is difficult and expensive. Veterinary care must come to you and surgeries are difficult. Wolves and wolfdogs are not dogs and can easily escape ordinary pens. She has erected heavy 10-foot-high fenced runs with double gates and concrete bases 3 feet into the ground and provided dens. Keeping them healthy and safe is ongoing full time work.

HealingWolf urges all who love wolves to support rescue groups run by those who are doing the work of preserving wolves in the wild and caring for all animals in captivity who can never survive in the wild. 


Visits to Medicine Wheel Lodge
Visitors and retreat groups from all over the world and people of all beliefs open their hearts to animals. HealingWolf and her wolves teach respect and love for all wild and domestic animals through physical interactions. 

For more information about Medicine Wheel Lodge and Native American Sacred Hoop (the 501(c)3 non-profit). Donations are appreciated for rescue, food, and veterinary care, as well as educational work. www.MedicineWheelLodge.com 

To schedule a visit to Medicine Wheel Lodge in Rimrock, AZ call (928) 592-0588 or email healingwolf@hotmail.com. (All visits are scheduled to the best benefit of the wolves.)

 

Published in another form in the August-September 2017 issue of the Flagstaff-Sedona Dog.

Wolf Howl Raven Speak

 

Wolf Howl Raven Speak: a collection of poems, stories, and dreams
by D. Whitewolf McFadden

Mystical, funny, and mingled with Whitewolf's powerful words on the plight of the wolves, her writing is filled with inspiration and her personal view of life and purpose.

One of the the best things I did in 2014 was edit and publish Wolf Howl Raven Speak. I loved selecting the poems and stories, arranges edited, added of some of Whitewolf's delightful drawings, and formatted the print edition. I'm proud of this special gift for an awesome friend. Who knew I'd love creating a book I didn't write.

Here's a sample from Wolf Howl Raven Speak:

Shadow of Doubt
a

Through a window

The morning sun

Filtered in

And cast my shadow

On the wall.

When I looked at it again,

It wasn’t me - at all.

There was a shaggy mane

Around my neck,

And two pricked ears

Atop my head.

A muzzle appeared

Behind a chair.

Then I could see

When I looked again

That what was me

Had become a…

                                                                  WOLF!

 

WhiteWolf is a wolf activist, dog trainer, and educator. Throughout her life she has embodied the Spirit of the Wolf, the Voice of the Raven, and the Courage of The Lone Ranger.

Remaining an inspiration to all who know her, she teaches dog training, offers workshops, and follows her lifelong interests in animals, the environment, and a creative life.

WhiteWolf lives in northern Arizona with Sirius, her retired racing greyhound.

Read other posts about my friend Whitewolf and her world of dogs and wolves:

Doris McFadden - Dog Lover and Trainer for 70 years 

 Doris (White Wolf) McFadden and the Wolves

More Wolves!

 Greyhound Rescue

Wolf Howl Raven Speak: a collection of poems, stories, and dreams

  is available in print from Amazon.

More Wolves!

I couldn't resist posting the latest photos of my friend Doris playing with her wolf friends at Healing Wolf's Medicine Wheel Lodge.

The top photo shows Doris with Mahota and Jhertoma and the picture below is Doris with a surprise visit from Kyra.

For more about Doris, her dogs, and wolves

see these previous posts:

Doris (White Wolf) McFadden and the Wolves
The Wolves of Medcine Wheel Lodge
Wolf Rescue

Donna Boyd's Werewolves
Greyhound Rescue 
Doris McFadden Dog Lover and Trainer for 70 Years




Photos by David G. Benson

Doris (White Wolf) McFadden and the Wolves

Doris (White Wolf) McFadden

Aka Doris Eukanuba & Doris of the Wolves

Doris McFadden’s connection with wolves started with a mystical dream in 1974 about an Arizona ranch and a white wolf. Over 10 years later she and her husband moved to that ranch in Arizona and acquired a one-year-old white Artic wolf-hybrid. Lobo was her companion for ten years and his spirit stays with Doris in her work with dogs and communication with wolves. 

Facilitator of Dancing with Wolves, 2011 and 2012, an OLLI sponsored panel discussion offering multiple perspectives concerning the wolf (the rancher, environmentalist, federal and state officials, concerned citizens and wolf preservationists) attended by a wolf.

Doris is on the Board of Directors and supporter of the U.S. Wolf Refuge in Nevada. She is also a supporter of Healingwolf's Medicine Wheel Lodge in Rimrock, Arizona and often takes visitors to meet and learn about the wolves. She is an inspiration to all and recently received the name White Wolf in a spiritual ceremony at the Medicine Wheel Lodge.

Doris and an Anatolian Shepherd Dog a breed 

used to keep wolves from ranches' cattle

Dancing with Wolves II Doris's wolf education program

"So do what wolves have always done
and one more time before the end
lift your head in mournful cry
and howl your heart out to the sky...
Your fate lies in the hands of men."

              Doris (White Wolf) McFadden

9 September 1990

Learn more about Doris and Dogs my post on Sept 5th.

The Wolves of Medicine Wheel Lodge

To visit and commune with wolves is a memorable experience! I’ve been fortunate to be able to visit an amazing place called Medicine Wheel Ranch.

I was able to go into a large habitat with Tundra wolves and receiving many sweet kisses and feel their powerful energy. The wolves stole my hat and they played with it like puppies until dog biscuits convinced them that they should return in unharmed.  

Healingwolf, the ranch’s owner, has a mystical calling to help us all understand these creatures. She was given her name by her father when she was found healing a wolf. Another wolf, knowing she was dying brought her young one for her. She has raised Gray wolves, Arctic wolves, Timber wolves, and now Tundra wolves. She has kept each one until they naturally crossed over to spirit.

Two grandfathers adopted her over 10 years ago, one 100 year old Oglala Sioux Shaman, and his 110 year old friend, a Shoshone Shaman. They have made her gifts, items that have been with their tribes for generations, and passed on the old wisdom that she shares with others. Healingwolf gives respect to the Ancient Ones, and honors all tribes, all traditions, and all relations.

Healing Wolf believes that the wolves are teachers and says the get particularly excited when children visit. “The children learn respect for all animals and creations, respect for themselves, one another, their siblings, their parents, their teachers, their classmates, Mother Earth and all elements. The wolves are leaders, teachers, and protectors.”

The Medicine Wheel Lodge invites you to go back in time listening to the stories passed down from the Shamans while reconnecting with the Earth Mother and experiencing Harmony and Balance amidst a private ancient oasis. The Peace you will experience is the presence of those who have gone before, and those who are still present. It is their connection and reverence to the land that gifts all who visit, such tranquility. If you are very perceptive, you may see them or watch them dance or feel their energy.

The site and building are also the site of a stagecoach stop when Arizona was young.

Learn more about Medicine Wheel Ranch

Wolf Rescue

 Bill Chamberlain, Director of the United States Wolf Refuge

 Bill Chamberlain has over twenty-seven years of experience dealing with wolves and wolf hybrids on a daily basis. He is certified in assessing and evaluating animal behavior and has done extensive studies and research into wolf and wolf-hybrid behavior.

  

I met Bill at a presentation in Arizona. Not only did he talk about the work he's doing with wolves and wolf-dogs but he explained the history and evolution of wolves, wolf behavior, recovery programs, and the reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf into the wilds of the Southwest. The U.S. Wolf Refuge  facility in Nevada presently has 16 wolves and hybrids, some for possible adoption and others are there in their forever home.

United States Wolf Refuge

The U.S. Wolf Refuge is in existence to promote and protect the welfare of all wolves and wolf dogs throughout North America. Their overall goals are to return the wolf to its rightful place within our ecology and to promote healthy and harmonious relations between man and wolf dogs.

They believe virtually all recent tragic incidents involving wolves and wolf dogs have been a direct result of humans dealing ineffectively with the wolves. If wolf and wolf dog behavior is understood and properly dealt with, man's relationship with them will be happy and harmonious. The U.S. Wolf Refuge is dedicated to this belief.

It is the belief of the U.S. Wolf Refuge that wolves are wildlife and belong in the wild as is naturally intended. Those who oppose the mere existence of the wolf must understand that the wolf is an absolute necessity to the natural balance of any ecosystem. Those who revere the wolf and make it out to be something greater than it is must understand the same thing. The wolf is simply a piece in Mother Nature's delicate and complicated puzzle.
                                                                                                          

Kasa  

Bill was accompanied by Kasa (Hopi Indian for "dressed in furs"), a 3 year old Wolf-Dog that was rescued from a California animal shelter after her owners lost their home to foreclosure. In most California cities any dog that is suspected of being a wolf mix is not eligible for adoption and either must be pulled out by an authorized rescue organization or is automatically euthanized. When her owners surrendered her they classified her as a Wolf-Dog. A volunteer from the U.S. Wolf Refuge was fortunate to have received a call from the animal shelter and was able to "rescue" her before she was euthanized.

Kasa has a wonderfully friendly disposition due to being raised with children and other animals. She has become an Ambassador Animal and goes to many public events. 

Wolf & Wolf-Hybrids

Besides the plight of wolves, Bill is an expert on wolf-dogs. He says, "wolves and wolf-hybrids are magnificent animals that many see as a status symbol."

Bill's organization takes in and finds homes for wolves and wolf dogs that are socialized enough to adjust to a new pack/family without significant trauma. This is a complicated and delicate process in that it requires an in-depth assessment of the animal as well as the people who are willing to bring such an animal into their home and into their lives. Bill has written a Placement Guide. He told me the his Adoption Questionnaire is exceptionally thorough. When I asked him about the success rate of wolf-hybrid adoptions from the U.S. Wolf Refuge he said only one had been removed from a home. He felt this was because the placement process was tough.  

I also asked Bill about DNA testing to determine if an animal was pure wolf or wolf hybrid. He said that at this time that is not possible.

Learn more & gain more insight by reading "Find Your Wolf a New Home" by Bill Chamberlain. And Download the Adoption Questionnaire and / or the the Adoption Agreement.

Amber Polo and Kasa

Learn more about the U.S. Wolf Refuge 

and wolves and wolf-hybrids

and assist their work.

Choose a wolf or wolf-dog to
sponsor for one year 
in their "Adopt-A-Wolf" Program.

Love Blog Tours? Prizes?

To Celebrate the print release of "Released"

(Book 1 of The Shapeshifters' Library) 

I'm setting out on my first ever

back-to-back blog tours.
Join me and take a chance on winning
great prizes (including genuine Arctic wolf fur)

Print and Kindle  and Nook now available

Follow along with me for 

Reviews, Excerpts, Guest Posts, & Interviews! 

14 stops in 9 Days!

Big Blog Tour Sept 10-17th

Sept 10 Hezzi D's Books & Cooks Review 

Sept 11 Bound To Astound Guest Post 

Sept 12 Aria's Dark Muse  Review
Sept 13 Nette's Bookshelf Excerpt

Sept 14 Nezzi D's Books & Cooks  Guest Post 

Sept 15 Books, Etc. Review
            The Wormhole Review/Author Interview
Sept 16 Hanging with Bells

Sept 17 A Simple Love of Reading  Guest Post 

Big Blog Tour Prize

Large canvas Shipsfeather Library book bag,4 signed books by Amber Polo including The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 1: Released, Amber's relaxation CD, 2 collectible dogs, a tuft of Arctic wolf fur,

And more…

One Day Excerpt Blitz - Sept 18th

Sept 18  A Simple Love of Reading 

Sept 18 The Peasants Revolt 

Sept 18 Crossroads 

Sept 18 Sherri's FIK*TISH*UHS Reviews 

Sept 18 Herding Cats & Burning Soup 

One Day Excerpt Blitz Prize

3 signed books by Amber Polo including The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 1: Released, a tuft of Arctic wolf fur, and more...

Lots of chances to win

Thanks, Collette, from

 ABG Reads Book Tours 

for setting me up with these wonderful bloggers!

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