A 6 ½ year old wolf/German shepherd mix named Nakita was turned over to the Suffolk SPCA last week after its owner says it became aggressive.
News 12 is told the owner bought her from a wolf breeder when she was only 5 weeks old. It had been living in a home in Ronkonkoma.
She will now live out her life at the Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology Center. The wolf's owner won't face charges.
The SPCA says owning these types of animals is dangerous because their behavior is often unpredictable.
"These animals are, by nature, wild animals," says Lt. Tom Gadomski, of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. "They might be friendly for a while, but at some point in time they're going to turn on you."
Other unusual pets have been turned over to the Suffolk SPCA in the past, including peacocks from Port Jefferson Station and a white tailed deer in East Hampton – as well as a skunk and a fox.
Anyone caught with or abandoning an illegal animal could face fines or jail time. The Suffolk SPCA is holding an Exotic Animal Amnesty Day, where owners can give them up with no penalties, on Sept. 30.