Nysa joined the W.O.L.F. family on January 29, 2017.  She was approximately one year old. Nysa, whose name means “New Beginnings,” came from Freedom’s Song Wolf Rescue in Oklahoma. They gave her the beautiful name to mark the beginning of her new life.

Nysa came from a breeder in Oklahoma. An inexperienced young couple purchased the wolf dog pup when she was eight weeks old. Nysa experienced a seizure that required veterinarian care.  The couple refused the veterinarian’s recommendations.  As a result, she ended up in a shelter in Oklahoma.  The shelter was reluctant to allow her to be adopted because she was a wolf dog.

Freedom’s Song Wolf Rescue leapt into action. Karen Lilly, the founder, contacted the shelter.  She was able to convince the shelter to relinquish the wolf dog to Freedom’s Song.  Nysa was nearly twenty pounds underweight and very shy. She never received any of her vaccinations. 

Freedom’s Song placed her with an experienced wolf dog foster family. It is there that Nysa began to flourish and thrive. She was provided with veterinary care, gained weight, and formed a bond with her foster mom. Nysa was curious about the other animals in her foster home.  She often slept side-by-side with a seven-month-old puppy that she shared a fence line with. In late January, the foster family felt it was time to place Nysa in a permanent sanctuary setting.

Freedom’s Song contacted W.O.L.F. After hearing Nysa’s story, staff thought she would be perfect for Wayaho.  The W.O.L.F. rescue team met Freedom’s Song in Kansas to make the transfer. Upon arriving at W.O.L.F., Nysa received a veterinarian examination to address a prior medical condition.  She was now ready to meet the young wolf dog, Wayaho.

The two were introduced, and they immediately began playing. Nysa and Wayaho formed a strong bond.  They often played and ran up and down the mountain. Both were curious and loved to watch the staff and volunteers perform their daily chores.  

In September 2023, Nysa and Wayaho were moved to their new forever home in Red Feather Lakes.  Their habitat was one of the largest at W.O.L.F. and featured massive rock outcroppings.  It had a “dog run” that allowed them to interact with their neighbors on two sides.  Nysa and Wayaho immediately began to explore their new home.  They mastered finding special spots to nap and observe the activities of the Sanctuary. 

Nysa and Wayaho were moved to a different habitat at Red Feather Lakes when Wayaho became ill.  The decision was made to place them in a habitat with more trees and a flatter landscape.  Unfortunately, Wayaho passed away in July of 2024.  Since that time, Nysa has been enjoying the shade and cover of the juniper trees in her habitat.  She enjoys interactions with her neighbors, Cree and Kovu and has dug a den underneath a large rock in her habitat.  She still greets her caregivers with a vigorous bark that makes her whole-body bounce.