Wolf Country USA owner fined, escapes jail time

PALMER — A man who for years ran a roadside attraction featuring wolves has been fined $3,000 as a result of a sentencing agreement finalized Wednesday.

According to a press release from Alaska State Troopers, Werner Schuster, owner and operator of Wolf Country USA on the Glenn Highway just north of Palmer, pleaded guilty to one count of owning and selling wolf hybrids.

In addition to the fine, Schuster’s sentence includes 90 days in jail, all of which were suspended. If he violates probation anytime in the next five years he could be required to serve that sentence. If Schuster does well on probation, he’ll remain free.

Reached by phone Friday, Schuster said he remained convinced that the law was on his side.

“It is not illegal, no matter what anybody says, the law is badly written and can’t be legally enforced in the court of law,” Schuster said about owning wolf hybrids.

He said he decided to plead guilty for two reasons. First was that his wife was dead-set against a drawn-out court case. Second, he figured it would probably cost him $20,000 to employ a lawyer.

“They offered us a $5,000 fine and give us four years to pay it. They cut it down to $3,000 and that’s it,” he said. “So it’s cheaper this way.”

Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game descended on Wolf Country USA June 16, 2011, leaving with DNA samples from 29 adult wolf-dog hybrids and 10 puppies.

“Lab experts confirmed that all animals tested had wolf ancestry,” troopers said in their report.

Schuster has in the past called into question anyone’s ability to tell the animals apart, saying that all dogs have wolf blood, and vice versa.

In December 2011, Schuster handed his wolf hybrids over to a rescue group from Outside. The wolves were taken to California, where the rescue group said they would be housed in specially built enclosures. Funding for the operation came from former game show host and noted animal rights advocate Bob Barker. Rescue group workers said they had worked with wolf hybrids in the past, but most contained less wolf blood than Schuster’s dogs.

Wednesday, troopers said Schuster handed over ownership of the animals “as a result of the case.” In exchange for giving up the animals and accepting the fine and suspended jail sentence, the state agreed to drop charges against Schuster’s wife, Gail, and against the business.

Since the wolves have left Wolf Country, Schuster said he’s still running a gift shop featuring photos of the animals, including photos with movie stars on the set of movies the animals appeared in.

Part of the business, he said, includes the ability to adopt a wolf and help pay for their care in California.

But without the star attraction, he said, business has dwindled.

“We haven’t done as much (business) this whole year as we usually do in June,” Schuster said.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.