Dog Owner Sends Warning After Wolf Attack in Duluth

Dogs, Owner Encounter Hungry Wolves

Sorry, this video is no longer available

Just like any other night, last Thursday, Jim Stukel took his two dogs Rugby and Cricket out to run on the trails near the airport.

This time their journey ended a little differently.

While the two were tussling in the woods, Jim continued to follow the path until only Cricket responded to his call. 

That’s when he knew something was not right.

Turning around, he discovered cricket had been chased by a pack of hungry wolves and Rugby was no where to be seen. 

After hours of searching, Jim turned around to head home with little hope of Rugby returning. 

Little did he know that night someone had found Rugby on the side of the road all beaten up and brought him to the Airport Animal Hospital where they were reunited the next day. 

After such an unnerving situation, Jim isn’t surprised they stumbled upon the wolves. 

“It’s an unfortunate incident but you have to really be careful because they are so close to town.  We’ve attracted the whole deer herd into our city so they can have a city deer hunt and we feed deer.  So, to expect that the predators wouldn’t come after them would be silly,” said Stukel. 

Longtime friend and veterinarian, Kim Madill, helped the family look for Rugby.

She suggests putting your dog on a leash and to also make sure you keep them closer to town. 

“Of course the dog parks are your safest place to be where they are in controlled situations.  I run with my dog and it’s a real serious scare right now,” said Madill. 

Rugby came away from the attack with 5 broken ribs and nearly 80 bite marks.  

Madill says he should be fully healed within two months.

Six other dogs have been attacked by these wolves in the Northland.