Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Center Inc

My son loves animals, me not so much. I have to say I enjoyed Shy Wolf very much. It was so nice to see how the volunteers really care about the animals and also the guests who come to visit. I think it takes special people to rescue and take care of these animals that can no longer survive in the wild.

Went there with my family. Our guide, Patty, was extremely nice and answered every question anyone had about the animals there. Anyone could see the animals were properly taken care of, there were very entertaining stories, and the animal encounters were fun yet safe, with the volunteers making sure everyone knew what to do while with the wolf-dogs. Personally, I think that this sanctuary was better than large zoos that I have been to, and would highly recommend to anybody wanting to go to a small place with not a lot of people.

Loved every minute of this place...very up close to animals I thaught I would never be able to get close to

We have been supporting Shy Wolf since our first visit, back in 2010. Over the years, we have met many rescue wolves. The people at Shy Wolf do amazing rescue work, healing the bodies & minds of these incredible creatures. Thank you Shy Wolf for everything you do for the animals!
(This photo is from our first visit, meeting timberwolf Tien)

My family and I went and had such a wonderful time. Shy wolf is a beautiful place that allows you to get up close and personal with with wolf and wolf dog mixed breeds. They rescue and rehabilitate the animals. Some of them are ambassador animals that are taken to schools or movie theaters for educational purposes. They teach you about the many differences between dogs and wolves and they many traits that can come out in wolf dog. The best part is when you get to go into an enclosure and you get to interact with two of them. They are amazing. Shy wolf has different animals there also. Foxes, bobcat, tortious and coyotes. They will help any wild animal. My family loved it can't wait to go back.

Helping people help animals. We were impressed with their knowledge.

I was fascinated by my visit to Shy Wolf Sanctuary. The staff is compassionate, and dedicated to the care of these magnificent creatures. The grounds are well-kept, and provide a safe, spacious haven for all.

And the stories! Each of these animals has a story: who they are, where they came from, and how they happened to find sanctuary here. You can’t fail to be impressed by hearing each animal’s life history -- not only where they’ve come from, but also how they are adapting to this home, and how their caretakers continue to provide for them. It’s an evolving process, tailored to their needs.

Hats off to the founders, the staff, and the volunteers of Shy Wolf Sanctuary, for rescuing, supporting, and loving the animals entrusted to their care. Thank you!

This place is incredible! To be so close and interact with such beautiful creatures seems like a dream but this sanctuary makes it come true!

I love this Sanctuary! Came just to visit at first and now eagerly volunteer there as much as I can! Such a magical place to spend your time in and I feel the animals remind us what is important in life! ❤️❤️❤️

What an amazing dedication to these loving animals.

i have volunteered at shy wolf sanctuary for over a year. the animals get the best of care. shy wolf spares no expense on the best veterinary care, food .and supplies to give the best of care to the animals .they are truly compassionate about all of the animals. and their mission. the visits are informative and interactive with the focus on education about the care of these animals and there part in our ecosystem. I am proud to be part of the shy wolf family

I volunteered with Shy Wolf in high school and have gone back several times to visit with the animals! It is such a great place to visit and an even more wonderful place to volunteer. I always felt like safety was a top priority and I was able to learn so much about wolves, big cats, foxes, etc. from volunteering here!

During our first visit, we knew we had to come back. We’ve been there most every Sunday since. The animals are all so wonderful and building relationships with each one is a unique and special experience. Shy Wolf has been a blessing and we look forward to each Sunday!

Sanctuary: a place of refuge and safety. This is exactly what Shy Wolf Sanctuary does for so many beautiful creatures who were might have been in a home that could not meet their needs or maybe out in the wild and sustained an injury. I "stumbled" upon one of their social media posts, and now I'm hooked for life not only as a fan but a supporter. It's the highlight of my day to see a howl-a-long or caption this picture, and I have learned so much about wolf-dogs and their other resident creatures in the process. In these crazy times we live in, most people are concerned how to spend those precious extra dollars: I'm proud to say I am a supporter, and although it isn't much, I feel I do make a difference in the lives of these beautiful creatures. I wish I lived close to the Shy Wolf Sanctuary so I could become a volunteer. A visit is on my bucket list!

It took almost a year to get to visit this place. All i can say is it was well worth the wait.
Judy's love for the sanctuary and the animals was so evident. The education she gave us all was amazing!

Shy Wolf Sanctuary is one of my happy places! This is one of the most amazing and gratifying non-profit organizations with so much education, which is a huge plus.
All the volunteers have so much love for all of these animals! It’s a first class run organization that deserves a five star vote from anyone who has been there.

Shy Wolf Sanctuary is an extraordinary place! Working with the animals is absolutely amazing and so rewarding. All of the volunteers are dedicated, wonderful people who put the needs of the animals above all else. Volunteering there has changed my life and I am very grateful that I get to develop relationships with all of our special animals. It is truly a spiritual experience! We give hope and love to animals who have no place else to call home. I am proud to be involved with such a special place!

Best non profit center I’ve been to. Great staff and such a great experience interacting with animals

I first visited Shy Wolf in 2016 and have loved it ever since. The work the team is doing for these animals is incredible and they all have such obvious love and compassion for them. I spend time there almost every weekend helping out because it’s just an incredible environment. I recommend a visit to everyone I know!

So wonderful here, the work they do is phenomenal they are well cared for and the staff is wonderful!

Been there twice in the last several years. An unforgettable experience each time!! Highly recommended!

Shy Wolf Sanctuary is amazing! The staff and volunteers are so friendly and the animals are well taken care of. This place is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend visiting! They are by appointment only, so make sure to book in advance.

My family had the most amazing visit. The grounds are beautiful and the staff and volunteers were wonderful.

I come down to Naples to visit friends and each time I book a trip we have tried to schedule a visit and we finally got in today and it was amazing, Renee was an excellent guide - she told us the backgrounds of the wolves and wolf dogs and gave us amazing facts about these animals. Truly an outstanding experience and kudos to the owners and volunteers. Great job - can’t wait to see the new place when it’s built.

I love this sanctuary! I wish this was available when I was growing up as a kid! They have such a great educational program! I have rescued wolf/hybrids for over 30 years when I needed advice or vet care for animals that we rescued as well they were their for us! They taught us so much and the love that we get from the animals there are no words that can describe the beauty and commitment from this sanctuary! There dedication is remarkable!

I’m over the moon! I finally got to visit Shy Wolf Sanctuary and I’m so impressed with their care and love for all the animals there. To sit and bond with a beautiful creature like this is beyond amazing. I didn’t want to leave but I will definitely go back. They have purchased a larger parcel of land to give their Wolves, Wolf Dogs, cougar, foxes, coyotes and more larger areas for them to live out their precious lives. It’s going to be a while because of funds and being a non-profit. However, their plans are all about the animals in their care. They will all have larger enclosures, with additional enrichment and even a Cat 5 Hurricane secure building for those times of need here in Florida. The animals were all beautiful and very healthy and seemed fulfilled and happy. I got to bond a bit with Mohan, a Wolf Dog. He loved getting neck scratches and just relaxed next to me for the longest while. I was in heaven. They guides are so involved and give so much information. You can tell they love the animals and caring for them. It was awesome learning about each individual animal and how they came to the sanctuary. The entire wolf pack started a howling session when Mohan was moved from his enclosure after our visit to go to a Vet appt. If you are ever in Naples Florida or nearby, Shy Wolf Sanctuary is a Must See!❤️

My husband and 16 year old grandson, Lucas, visited Shy Wolf Sanctuary on September 28th of this year. We had been to the sanctuary several times and always enjoyed our visit. My grandson had visited the sanctuary with us several years ago. When he made plans to visit this year he asked to visit the sanctuary. That was top on his list!!!! He had a wonderful time, as did we.

Our thanks to Ashley for such an interesting 2 hours. We are loyal supporters of the Shy Wolf Sanctuary and will continue to be.

John and Jean Smith
Lucas Breuer

I have volunteered at Shy Wolf this past year and it has been an incredible experience. I clean enclosures, chop up meat, makes feeding bowls and feed these beautiful animals. It is both my pleasure and honor to be at Shy Wolf Sanctuary and be able to give my time and care for the amazing and loving wolves, wolf dogs, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, prairie dogs and of cause our Florida panther.
All the volunteers share a common goal, love of animals and caring hearts. We all work hard, and rewarded with wet kisses and scent rubs ( which sometimes can give you a new hairdo ). I have learned so much and am grateful to the staff for all the support and teaching that is ongoing.

Amazing and best experience we have had. If I lived in Florida, I would definitely become a volunteer. It's amazing what Shy Wolf Sanctuary has to offer for the animals and the public as well. I recommend this place to everyone I know who is visiting Florida.

I first visited more then 10 years ago and fell in love with the sanctuary. I visit again recently and fell in love all over again. You know a place is special when it attracts so many wonderful volunteers who clearly love the animals. Seeing the animals and how well they are cared for and loved is a great experience that I highly recommend!

Our visit to Shy Wolf Sanctuary was so interesting we came home & told friends/family about our experience, encouraging them to make every effort to also visit. What a caring & devoted group of individuals who care for our 4 legged friends. We look forward to going back with a larger group.

I visited Shy Wolf Sanctuary while vacationing in Florida. Friends we were visiting took us, and I admit that I was not sure I wanted to visit a "sanctuary" for wild animals. As an Animal Control Officer and Animal Welfare rescue volunteer I have seen too many "sanctuaries" that at least disappointed and sometimes horrified me. Shy Wolf Sanctuary blew me away on many critical points and I have been a staunch supporter ever since. First the incredible cleanliness of the entire property impressed me. The layout of enclosures for so many animals on such a small property that still managed to offer comfortable and enriching environments for a variety of species was also impressive to me. The number and quality of the volunteers and staff would make any organization jealous.; I could go on, but I just want to say THANK YOU to the Shy Wolf Sanctuary for the incredible work you all do, the amazing things that your group has done with so few resources for all these years, and for the animals whose lives you have not only saved but improved immensely. I will support you in any way I can and recommend that anyone who can offer support and encouragement please do what you can to help Shy Wolf expand and continue their aweome work. God bless you all!

I have visited there and was very impressed with the dedication of the staff. I began recommending it to my FGCU students as a service opportunity. Every student who has volunteered there has been made to feel wanted, appreciated, and important to the efforts of the Group. They have also learned many aspects of the exotic animal trade and the problems it causes and shared the knowledge with me.

I have visited Shy Wolf Sanctuary a number of times. It is amazing what they are able to do to help animals that have been abandoned or surrendered because someone felt that an exotic pet was for them but was sadly mistaken. The staff is wonderful and it is very evident that they care greatly for the animals and take care of them as if they were their own. I support them yearly as I know that my donation will be put to the best use available to care for these lovely animals.

I took a private tour of Shy Wolf Sanctuary in February 2019 with my sister and her friend. Peg, a volunteer, was a wonderful guide. We spent about two hours at the sanctuary and had the opportunity to interact with a number of animals. Having volunteered for eight years at another wolf sanctuary, and having visited a number of other wolf sanctuaries, I was able to appreciate all of the special accommodations Shy Wolf has for its animals. For example, each enclosure has a house specially designed for the needs and personality of the animals living there. Enrichment opportunities are elaborate and tailored to the needs of each animal. I enjoyed looking at the DNA information posted on the fence of each enclosure detailing whether the animal is full wolf, or if a wolf dog, what types of dog are part of its makeup.
I was very pleased to see how much shade the sanctuary has to protect the animals from the hot Florida sun. Most of all, I was impressed with the enthusiasm and collegiality of all of the volunteers. -Holly

Lucky enough to tour this fabulous facility. An experience you will always remember and want to visit many times. Thank you for saving these beautiful creatures.

Absolutely amazing! Knowledgeable guides, gorgeous animals, fascinating stories and info! Melbourne, the "singing dog", is just too darling, and the chance to interact with and touch some of these precious animals is priceless! Will bring our grandchildren the next time!

I visited Shy Wolf Sanctuary many many years ago. It was inspiring! Then when our grandchildren came along, I took them to visit also. We have taken many of our relatives there when they cone to visit from other states. It has always been a unique experience for everyone!
So glad to hear Shy Wolf will become owners of more property to build a new facility! I wish you many years of future success!
Cathy Koch

My wife and I visited Shy Wolf Sanctuary to see the wolves and interact with them. Much to our surprise there is much more than just wolves there !! They have numerous other animals there as well. All the staff & volunteers we had contact with were wonderful. The wolves were so friendly and just wanted to love, which was so easy to give them. We couldn't decide which one(,s) we wanted to love more because there are so many to choose from.. Beautiful place and would love to go back again when I get back to Florida. I would highly recommend to visit there !!!

Shy wolf is an organization that helps the public understand the need for these animals and the trials these animals go through daily in the wild.
They also work extensively with the public in training/teach roles and as an organization that openly accepts help from groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. They work hand in hand with my Troop and Pack and give as much as they receive from these youth

Fantastic sanctuary! The animals are lived and well cared for. It’s an amazing experience to be able to interact with a wolf dog.

Wow! what an excellent experience and amazing organization! The knowledge of the volunteers is incredible and the Sanctuary has a family feel. The animals are bright eyed and gorgeous and the habitats are kept clean. Some of the habitats have benches where you can sit and interact with the wolves. And they sing!

So amazing I am coming back to volunteer regularly!

Finally able to make a visit reservation with my grandsonabout ten years ago. Was so impressed, I applied to volunteer. The dedication of the others: Deanna, Sue, Ginnie, Nancy & Kent, and each of the so many others, is amazing. Their understanding of our residents, their dedication, their advocacy is remarkable. When I had to move back north, I learned they had put into action a plan, so those of us who had moved, could continue to volunteer electronically - so we're still part of blessed, amazing SWS. One unexpected benefit of my whole volunteer experience was the continual learning both in classes and with our residents (who, themselves are amazing teachers). I couldn't come back, but during last season's hurricanes, so many volunteers returned to the sanctuary to make sure the residents were safe, protected, and comforted before their own homes were storm prepared and cleared. After the hurricanes so many volunteers spent days clearing the enclosures, repairing enclosures, hauling brush, all to further care and protect our residents. Every single thing done at SWS is priority one for the safety and care of our resident animals so they will never experience physical or emotional abuse and abandonment again. Thank you. Pam Dixon

This place is amazing! The love and care they give all of their animals is incredible. Great ambassadors and educators! I was very impressed with the quality of enclosures and enrichment.

What a wonderful place. These animals are so well taken care of and you can see the passion in every person's eyes who works with them. The animals respond to all the kindness they receive. I was actually fortunate to learn of them and to be able to donate. I will do so again, as they have earned a special place in my heart.

I have visited Shy wolf many times, but I'll never forget this one time when Nancy was speaking to a group of rather surly teenagers who seemed at first thoroughly uninterested in her talk. And then she began talking about having a purpose in life and how one of the wolves was depressed and listless until she was called upon to mother an abandoned pup. And then her life became purposeful and her whole demeanor changed into a happy loving wolf. Nancy talked about how everyone needs a purpose. It doesn't matter what they do, maybe they're good with electronics and can fix people's computers, or maybe they can draw and delight others with their art. But everyone needs a purpose and so she hopes they all find their purpose, too. By the end, all the teens were engaged and some with teary eyes. I know I had teary eyes and I never forgot her message.