Comments on: “Maine Mutant” Celebrated

By: Willi_Jac

Willi_Jac — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:30:56 +0000

hmm, if you look at the head, doesn’t it kinda look like a wolverine? would it be possible if it was a wolverine/wolf hybrid made by the government or something? or maybe its just a descendant of that extinct wolf with that snout like a hog, maybe it mixed with a regular wolf.
p.s. if you watched that MonsterQuest episode, then is it possible or natural for an animal to be GASPING for breath? especially a dog thing, they’ve got more stamina, right?

By: logisch

logisch — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 17:30:47 +0000

thanks for orionsbow contribution, i’m happy about seeing that sort of statements here.

By: TheWolf

TheWolf — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:21:55 +0000

One or two pictures can never give a great example of any dog, wolf or other creature. These are no exception, but there are a few things you can see.

1. The eyes are shaped very oddly. They are horizontal, like a human’s, as opposed to almond-shaped or rounded. The skin may have pulled back as the dead creature dried, though.

2. The lower jaw is extremely thick. Again, might be post-mortem, or damage done by the car. But it’s thick, blunt, and if natural, not at all of any wolf or dog breed’s natural shape.

3. The muzzle. It’s turned downward as opposed to parallel with the plane of the skull or upward-turned, as in almost all dog breeds. An akita would have a blunt but parallel muzzle. Only Bull Terriers really have that (not the same breed as American Pit Bull Terrier).

4. The fur. The fur is very soft-looking all over the body, but very long and wolf-like over the tail. This is a very odd combination, almost like the dog had a puppy-coat on the body. An Akita would NOT have that fur type on the tail unless it were longhaired, and this creature is not.

5. HIND Dewclaws: aside from what the article claims, only a few dog breeds regularly have hind dewclaws. Dingos also do–but this isn’t a dingo.

6. Shape: short legs, long body. Wolves and coyotes have long, narrow legs; this creature’s are short and blunt.

So I’m guessing:
Wolf/Bull Terrier mix, if not some kind of crazy Dire Wolf remnant–or a somehow faked animal altogether.
Bull Terriers are fighting dogs and will attack other canines. This creature has wolfish fur and a wolfish color (black phase, which is not the same as black and not found in any domestic breed I can think of), a downturned muzzle, and oddly-shaped eyes (which Bull Terriers also have, btw).

By the way, folks: as wolves and dogs are technically the same species (dogs are a subspecies of wolf), two notes:
The term Wolfdog “hybrid” is incorrect, and a DNA test may not be able to determine what this is, other than Canis Lupus or subspecies thereof.

–The Wolf

Credentials: ex dog trainer, behaviorist, studied wolves, wolfdogs and dogs

By: orionsbow

orionsbow — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:40:06 +0000

It’s interesting, revealing maybe, to me that crypto_randz, et al, said the deceased looks like a “werewolf like dog” as if a “werewolf” were a REAL thing, which, of course, it absolutely is NOT. Perhaps the addition of a qualifier or two such as “alleged” before werewolf or “of legend” after the word would have made the comment seem more succinct. I’m just wondering if it is necessary for us to idle our brains from processing scientific fact in order to discuss the possibilities of cryptozoological oddities. What I mean is that you can’t compare a known element (the dead doggy) with an unknown element (the alleged werewolf or any other creature not proven to exist) using the scant, truly marginal “evidence” currently passing as “proof” throughout the crypto community.

As proffered by many wiser than me, the expression “Just the facts, maam” seems
apropos to this discussion.

By: boreddvm

boreddvm — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:45:47 +0000

Squared-off teeth in canines is a feature of advanced age. They are commonly seen in geriatric domestic dogs.

This was a poor mixed breed dog with a rough life.

By: TemplarKnight21c

TemplarKnight21c — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:39:44 +0000

Yes, but still. A rather odd combination.

By: crypto_randz

crypto_randz — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:47:03 +0000

The short muzzle on the beast is very interesting is small and tight to me it looks like a werewolf like dog. It sure is a mystery animal. Finally a cryptid body to analyze. Great job LOREN on getting this story.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:10:41 +0000

I’m amazed at the irrational responses to this “story.” The photos on this site clearly show a dog of some unknown breed or mixed breed, possibly with a deformity of the mandible. No mystery. The AP story appeared in my local newspaper, and the photo they chose to include was the worst of the lot and made the animal look truly alien. I’m sure some folks in my neck of the woods declared it a chupacabra!
As for why local wildlife officers showed no interest, my guess is they knew better!

By: stroel

stroel — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 22:22:01 +0000

To me it looks like a cross between a goat and a wild dog.

By: Hawgzilla

Hawgzilla — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 21:15:11 +0000

Got to be some sort of canine hybrid/mix/mongrel. I’m getting the whole “mountain lions don’t live in Maine” vibe by the reported lack of interest on behalf of IF&W and ACOs when asked to come out to have a look. Wonder if the state already knows what it is? Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies, type deal….I’m sure some of you remember back a few years ago when that was the by-line from the state regarding mountain lions. They swore up and down they were not in the state despite some very credible sightings from experienced outdoors people. Also, a Warden not wanting to make the what, 20 +/- minute trip from Poland to Turner seems kind of lame to me.