Howling Woods Farm

05/21/2026

Spring has sprung and these two pups are looking for their forever home!

Please meet Barnaby (brown and white) and Spartacus (red and white) — two six-month-old pups from Howling Woods Farm looking for the right forever home.

These boys are around 55 lbs, approximately 30% wolf, and apparently have a little golden retriever mixed in too, which somehow makes them even more unique. Their Embark results are included in the photos for the full breakdown.

Barnaby and Spartacus are great with other dogs and would do best in a home with a confident canine companion to help show them the ropes. They’re learning to walk on leash and are adjusting well, but like any pups coming into a new environment, they’ll need patience and consistency while settling into a new routine. With time and structure, they should do well in a home setting.

They’ve had their vet checkup, are vaccinated, neutered, and are ready to find people committed to giving them the stable, understanding home they deserve.

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If you’re seriously interested, please fill out an application on our website and call our office afterward so we can make sure we get back to you promptly.

Serious inquiries only.

05/01/2026

Howling Woods Farm Monthly Wrap-up Report: April Edition

April was one of those months where steady effort really showed its impact.

A big thank-you goes out to the Bank of America volunteer team, who spent time on-site tackling projects including cleaning paths, filled in holes, repaired the boardwalk in the middle pen AND expanded the double-gated entry to Lyra’s enclosure and installed a tractor gate in the back. These upgrades make a meaningful difference for both animal care and staff efficiency.

We also had the opportunity to bring Aristos and Oberon out to Scotch Plains High School for a presentation. These visits continue to be an important part of outreach—giving the public a chance to connect with the animals while learning about wolfdog behavior, conservation, and responsible ownership.

On the home front, spring energy is unmistakable. The pack has been enjoying more walks and playdates as the weather improves, and the change in season always brings a noticeable shift in activity levels and social dynamics.

We welcomed two new additions this month—Barnaby and Spartacus. Their puppy energy has been a lively addition to the group, and it’s a reminder of how much early development and socialization shape future behavior.

April also gave us a chance to celebrate several birthdays in the pack: Lyra, Zelda, Jack, and Tawny. These milestones are more than symbolic—they’re markers of long-term care, stability, and the relationships built over time.

As we move further into spring, we’re looking forward to continued growth, more educational outreach, and more opportunities for the public to connect with what we do.

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If you’re interested in visiting, we encourage you to call the office and schedule a tour. Seeing the animals in person offers a much clearer understanding of their needs, their personalities, and the work that goes into caring for them. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

04/24/2026

Happy Birthday Buddy and Holly!

Over the past two years, these two have become an important part of life at Howling Woods Farm. Their presence has contributed not only to the daily rhythm of the sanctuary, but also to its mission of education and outreach.

Buddy and Holly engage thoughtfully with visitors and volunteers, offering meaningful opportunities to observe wolfdog behavior up close. Through these interactions, they help foster a better understanding of wolfdogs and play a role in challenging long-standing misconceptions, including the narrative of the “big bad wolf.”

As ambassadors, they represent the complexity, intelligence, and individuality of wolfdogs, encouraging the public to approach these animals with respect and informed perspective.

We are grateful to have them as part of our pack and look forward to continuing to learn from them in the years ahead.

Please join us in wishing these two cuties the happiest of birthdays! 🐺🥳

04/01/2026

Howling Woods Farm Monthly Wrap-up: March Edition

This month has been a chilly one! While we’re finally feeling things warm up around the farm, our animals sure enjoyed the colder weather and have been especially active and playful lately. It has been a great time to watch them settle into their routines as the seasons start to shift.

This March, we were honored to be recognized by the Jackson Township Council for our dedication to rescuing and caring for wolf-dogs. Aristos joined us and, as always, carried himself like a true gentleman.

March is a big birthday month here at HWF, especially for our mid and upper mid-content wolfdogs. Bristol is likely turning 2, Katara 6, Oberon 4, Sayen 7, and Aristos 3. A very happy birthday to all of them!

Katara, in particular, has been coming out of her shell more—she’s been warming up and even seeking out some attention from visitors, which has been great to see.

If you’ve been thinking about visiting, we’d love to have you. Give us a call to schedule a tour and come see everyone in person.

As always, thank you for your continued support 🐺

03/26/2026

Jackson Township presented Howling Woods Farm with an achievment award at the council meeting last night. Of course we had to take Aristos to make a good impression upon the audience and council members.

03/20/2026

Sharing a Howling Woods Farm gift basket offered at auction to benefit the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Pittstown, NJ.

03/04/2026

This March, we’re honored to be recognized by the Jackson Township Council for our dedication to rescuing and caring for wolf-dogs.

Please feel free to join us on March 24th starting at 6:30 pm, as we are recognized at the public meeting. Aristos, one of our amazing ambassador wolfdogs, will also be in attendance. He would love to see you there!

Our mission is simple: to provide a safe haven for these incredible animals and to educate the public about their needs, behaviors, and the responsibility that comes with caring for them. With the support of our community, we’ve helped countless animals find their forever homes and provided many others with a forever sanctuary.

Howling Woods Farm is one of only a few wolf or wolf-dog rescue facilities in New Jersey, and we’re so proud to be part of this amazing community!

A huge thank you to Mike, our founder, whose tireless work and passion make all of this possible! He and his team’s commitment to these animals and to educating others about them has made Howling Woods Farm a true sanctuary for both animals and people alike.

If you are not able to make the public meeting on the 24th, don’t worry! We are open weekly for tours! Please give us a call to schedule a time to visit, learn, and celebrate the beauty and importance of these incredible animals. Together, we can continue making a difference, not just in Jackson, but beyond!

Thank you for your continued support — we can’t wait to welcome you to Howling Woods Farm!

03/04/2026

03/02/2026

Howling Woods Farm Monthly Wrap-Up: February Edition

February at Howling Woods Farm has been full of excitement. We’ve been taking full advantage of the snow, with plenty of outdoor fun for both the wolves and our visitors. It’s always a special time of year when the snow transforms the farm, and our animals run and play together in their natural environment.

We also had the pleasure of taking Oberon and Aristos to the Ramsey Public Library for a presentation with a group of 4th and 5th graders. This age group is at that sweet spot where they begin asking really thoughtful and engaging questions, which made for a lively and interesting discussion. As always, our wolfdogs were fantastic in helping the kids learn about wolves, their behavior, and their role in the ecosystem.

If you missed the presentation, don’t worry – there’s always more to come. We encourage you to schedule a tour of the farm and get up close with our amazing animals. Tours are available by calling our office during the week. We’d love to share our passion for these incredible animals with you!

02/23/2026

I remember when the Disney movie '101 Dalmatians' came out. There were many unqualified homes purchasing dalmatians....a breed unsuitable in homes with small children.

With the press on Nazgul, there will be a rush to purchase a wolfdog pup. In Europe I suspect that will not be a problem, as Czechoslovakia Wolfdog breeders are select, care about the breed standard, and will not sell to anyone (based upon experience), plus the fee to purchase one is considerable.

However, here in the US anyone can sell a wolfdog to anybody for almost nothing....no breed standard, no peer pressure, papers are made up, price is cheap. What at first I thought was good press for wolfdogs, may actually result in many unqualified breeders selling wolfdogs to many unqualified homes.

Mike Hodanish
Howling Woods Farm