Athena Update - February 2, 2008
Our "Athena" is growing healthier by the day! She has endless energy and thinks she's in Heaven because of all the snow they've had at the refuge. As she gets older her color is changing from lighter tones to darker gray/black. Bill says that "like Temerity, Athena has a face that simply melts your heart". Could this possibly mean that she's a keeper Bill? Stay "tuned" ... we'll post a new photo of Athena to our website very soon!

Athenas Rescue
By Shellie Robertson, USWR Volunteer

To all our faithful supporters, we’d like for you to meet the newest member of our “pack”. This is Athena. She’s somewhere between 4-6 months old and was rescued from the Shasta Lake Animal Shelter in Northern California on Saturday, August 25th. We assisted Alan Doyle of Siberian Husky Rescue & Referral of California after he was notified that this little girl was destined to be euthanized. He called me, I called Bill, and wonderful person that he is, he drove from the Bay Area all the way up to Shasta Lake to meet this puppy, retrieve her, and then meet with Bill Chamberlain for the trip to her new home at the Refuge.

July 2008 - Here's ATHENA --- she's a few months shy of being 1-1/2 years old. She is a social butterfly who gets along with EVERYONE - even my dog Roxy (right) who doesn't normally get along with ANYONE!!!!

Athena - All Grown Up - June 2008

This poor little girl was apparently the result of backyard breeders who have the reputation of breeding their female every time she comes into heat, then even more neglect comes into the picture as we’re told there is never any medical treatment and that they throw food over the fence to the adults.

THE PUPS ARE NOT FED, they must nurse from the mother until they are adopted! Thankfully, Shasta County Animal Control is investigating and will file animal neglect and civil charges (zoning, health, business laws) against the breeder and the adoptive owner (if he can be found) as the evidence allows. Athena (as Bill has now named her/Goddess of Wisdom) was literally hours away from being euthanized and she is in such poor health that she is going to need months of special care and medications. However, many of you know Bill…if anyone can pull this baby thru with flying colors, it will be him.

He has built her a special pen outside his office so that she is isolated from most of our other animals while she is treated for demodetic mange. On top of all the meds he is sanitizing her pen twice a day, giving her medicated baths, and treating the hundreds of open sores with alcohol, which seems to be relieving to her. She is extremely underweight, although in just a week or so her appetite has improved and she is slowly filling out. Temerity has stepped in (somewhat) as her foster mom. The pup follows her around while Temerity is very patient and tolerant. Temerity’s getting up there in years and the last thing she probably expected was to become a “mom”. But, “T’s” so special, there could never be a better wolf-dog setting examples for this little girl to follow. She’s already wiggled her way into Bill’s heart and she’s working on “T”.

Athena has many more months of healing, and many, many more visits to the vet. When this is behind her she’ll also need to be spayed. We’ll keep you all updated on her progress!

Athena (the Social Director) and Shellie Robertson's Roxy,
Athena's best new bud! (June 2008)

Anyone wishing to donate to Athena’s medical bills, and care, please send your check payable to United States Wolf Refuge POB 2756 Sparks, NV 89432 noted “for Athena”, or simply make a donation via PayPal.

Thank you for your help and concern.