Pennsylvania Mother Dies After Attack by Pet Hybrid Wolves

A tragic incident unfolded in Salem Township, Pennsylvania, where a mother, Sandra L. Piovesan, was killed by her pet hybrid wolves. The 50-year-old’s body was discovered by her daughter on April 30, 2012, inside an electrified enclosure that Piovesan had built to contain the animals. The hybrid wolves, which are a crossbreed of domestic dogs and various wolf species, attacked her in a brutal episode that has raised serious concerns about the dangers of keeping such volatile animals as pets.

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office reported that Piovesan bled to death from her injuries. Notably, the coroner, Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, indicated that the dogs had surprisingly ceased their attack, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding her death. “It appears they stopped their attack,” Wecht stated. “It’s curious.” The coroner suggested that Piovesan likely succumbed to her injuries within minutes of the initial assault.

Concerns about the safety of hybrid wolves have been echoed by Elaine Gower, a Westmoreland County Humane Agent, who had previously warned Piovesan about the unpredictable nature of these animals. Gower expressed her fears that it was only a matter of time before the hybrid wolves would turn on their owner. A post-mortem examination dismissed speculation that Piovesan may have suffered a medical emergency prior to the attack, stating, “There is no evidence… of a heart attack, stroke, or any other condition involving a natural death that would have rendered her unconscious.”

The situation is further complicated by past incidents. Gower revealed that a friend of Piovesan was attacked by one of the dogs approximately two years earlier, although no formal complaint was filed. “We were all scared that someday, somehow, those wolves would escape that pen and hurt some child or someone,” Gower remarked.

Records indicate that Piovesan had registered her hybrid wolves as mixed-breed dogs at the county treasurer’s office. Gower pointed out a troubling discrepancy in Piovesan’s identification of the animals, explaining, “When she sold the pups, they were identified as wolves.” The exact number of puppies sold and their buyers remain unknown.

In the aftermath of the attack, authorities made the difficult decision to euthanize the eight hybrid dogs to safely retrieve Piovesan’s body from the enclosure. Gower remarked, “They had to be killed. There was no way of knowing which one killed her.” Additionally, two adult Rottweilers owned by Piovesan and housed inside her home were confiscated and will be placed in an animal sanctuary, as they were not involved in the attack.

This incident highlights significant concerns regarding the ownership of hybrid wolves as pets. Experts agree that hybrids can pose greater risks to humans than their wild counterparts, owing to their unpredictable behavior. The tragic death of Sandra L. Piovesan serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers associated with keeping such animals in domestic settings.