Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) wishes to inform the public about at-large dogs which are presumed to be wolf and German shepherd hybrids. It has not been confirmed that all of the dogs are wolf hybrids. These dogs recently escaped from their enclosure in Orange County, NC, and it is estimated that approximately four dogs are currently still at large. Some of the dogs were safely captured and are currently being housed at the OCAS facility.
At this time, we have no confirmation that the dogs have attacked or hurt any people, animals, or livestock. However, like any fearful animal, these dogs may display aggressive tendencies when confronted by people. For everyone’s safety, OCAS is asking that people refrain from attempting to capture or confine the dogs. If you see any of these dogs running loose, please call Orange County Animal Control at 919-942-7387, option 1.
Orange County Animal Control officers have set traps in the Cedar Grove area of Orange County, where the dogs originally escaped their enclosure. OCAS is asking the public NOT to feed the dogs or interfere with these trapping efforts. If the public does feed or interfere, it will severely hinder efforts to safely capture the dogs.
As this situation unfolds, OCAS understands the concerns about what might happen to these dogs after they have been captured. No outcome has been determined for the dogs at this time. The safety of these animals and the safety of the public are of the highest priority in this case. These dogs are not currently available for adoption or foster to the general public, and it is highly unlikely that they will ever be made available in that way. Hybrids of this kind are not able to be kept as pets in Orange County, and there is not an approved rabies vaccine for these canines. Placement for these animals is challenging, but OCAS wants the public to know that they are working very hard to find placement options.