Well.. I started visiting a wolf sanctuary here in CA 6 or so years ago. I bonded with a particular wolf, who was removed from his packmates because he wanted to fight. The problem is he loves people, so it was difficult for him to be isolated.
Wolves also have an innate fear of humans, if I suddenly stood up in front of any of the wolves, they would jump back and be like "Oh my, you just got a lot bigger!". Except for Mishomi. Mishomi will just knock you back down to the ground, not because he is upset, but because he has no fear of people.
It's a good thing and a bad thing-a good thing because it allows me to wrestle with him and generally interact with him more than I could with a normally socialized wolf who has a healthy fear of humans. A bad thing because if-and when- I fail to follow wolf rules-he can become upset. Fortunately, wolves never hurt each other in the wild, they need each other to hunt.
Anyway.. not too many people are allowed in with him, because it can be a terrifying experience to be knocked to the ground by a 200 lb animal that is as fast as a cat and strong as a bear. One guy used to visit Mishomi all of the time, but he moved and now no longer visits him so much.
The thing about wolves, is that they are very social animals, they need contact, or they become reclusive and withdraw into themselves (very bad). Tonya, the owner of the sanctuary, told me that if I ever leave Mishomi, he will simply stop eating and drinking-I have read about this thing before, with wolves.
They're not like a dog so much, that can have a new home. Once you bond to a wolf, you are that animals everything. As far as ownership goes, they need a good space to live, with tall inner fencing, and adequate outer fencing. To be fair to the animal, you are looking at a minimum of $15,000 worth of fencing, plus property, permits, etc. Their howls can be heard 3 miles away (And can sound 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, am and beyond)-your neighbors have a right to complain!
It's *really* hard to own a wolf legally, and if you are not intimately familiar with their body language, (You really can't *ever* be 100%! Trust me!) and in tune with your own instincts, ("You're about to be bit! Back out slowly and pray!") you might just have to throw the wolf over meat and appreciate it from outside the pen. I have been bitten, and it isn't fun. They have the power to completely sever the large portion of your leg, bone and all!
Picture a completely manner-less dog, that is huge, and moves like a housecat. Now, picture this dog loving you, but not unconditionally. Picture the dog that can have a bad day-and can be offended, and can carry a grudge-for months. Picture a dog that has 2" incisors that has no problem, if you provoke it-unintentionally-it makes no difference- plunging them into your flesh.
It is a lifetime-of-the-wolf relationship. You cannot take a 2 week vacation, or even a one week vacation. You cannot have the wolf in a dog pen-wolves can jump straight up, and can scale an 8 foot chainlink fence. They eat red meat and chicken-no dog food. No hamburger. The meat bill for 16 wolves is over $3,000 a month.
Also, the wolf will not respond to you like a dog will. It doesn't generally return affection. The most heartwarming thing Mishomi has ever done is to curl up inside my 'lap' as I was laying on my side.
Wolves are capable of smiling! Mishomi jumps straight up in the air when he sees me, and smiles when I am in the pen with him. I think owning a wolf for most people would be a costly and unrewarding endeavor.
I'm sorry, I like talking about wolves.
I hope you enjoy it here 
. Beautiful wolf btw and very cute ^.^! I have a cat.
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