Anchorage, Alaska - Reaffirming its determination not to allow the possession or sale of wolf hybrids, the Alaska Board of Game on Wednesday strengthened its regulation to prohibit the sale of wolf hybrids.

The possession or sale of wolf hybrids long has been illegal under Alaska's regulations governing the use of live game. But in absence of a simple genetic test to determine whether an animal is a wolf hybrid, the regulations have been brazenly ignored by a segment of the public.

Several high profile commercial breeding operations in South Central Alaska advertise wolf hybrids for sale. Additionally, some local governments allow residents to possess wolf hybrids despite state regulations against it. In Anchorage alone. several hundred people have registered their hybrids with local animal control authorities.

State health officials have expressed concern about the proliferation of wolf hybrids, given the lack of a rabies vaccine that is proven safe and effective.

The regulation unanimously approved by the board "grandfathers in" people who owned a wolf hybrid as a pet prior to Wednesday. Those people will be allowed to keep those hybrids so long as they take certain steps.

Current hybrid owners have until July 1, 2002 to have their animals spayed or neutered and have an identifying microchip planted under the animal's skin.

The regulation also prevents the transfer of a hybrid to any person outside the immediate family of a person who owned the animal prior to Wednesday.

Any hybrid that bites someone must immediately be surrendered to local authorities for any treatment deemed appropriate by the authorities.

The regulation applies to any animal represented to be a wolf, or part wolf, including the result between the mating of a wolf or wolf hybrid with a dog or another wolf hybrid.

It has always been illegal to possess wolf hybrids, but there was no definitive test to prove that an animal was a hybrid. The new language now reads:

"It is now unlawful, without the necessary permit, for a person to possess, sell or advertise for sale a wolf hybrid, as well as any animal represented to to be a wolf or part wolf by any name or description. For purposes of this regulation a wolf hybrid includes the result between the mating of a wolf or wolf hybrid with a dog or another wolf hybrid.
 
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for illegal possession under subsection:


1. that the person possessed the animal as a pet prior to January 23, 2002, and

2. that the animal was registered with a national registry approved by the Department by implantation of a microchip by July 1, 2002, and

3. that the animal was properly spayed and neutered by July 1, 2002, and

4. that the owner has kept accurate licensing, vaccination and neutering records, and made them available for inspection by animal control officers and other enforcement officers, and

5. that since January 23, 2002 has not been transferred to any person outside the immediate family of the person that owned it on January 23, 2002, and

6. that, if the animal has bitten anyone, the animal was immediately surrendered to the local authorities for any treatment deemed appropriate by the authorities."

This language specifically says that if anyone advertises or or in any way represents the animal as a hybrid, it is a hybrid. Numbers 1-6 "grandfather" current owners in if they comply with all the requirements. The department will not be registering these animals. The national registry referred to is already in place for dogs, so hybrid owners will need to go to their veterinarians to implant the chips and register their animals.