Tien means "Heaven" in Chinese and "Sky" in Mandarin.  He was one of three pups seized by FWC at three weeks of age.  FWC had been called to a private licensee's property to investigate a complaint of dead and dying animals.  They did find a deceased wolf in an enclosure and instructed the woman to remove the body and clean up the property.  Thirty days later they returned to check out the situation…only to find three pups in a den in neglectful conditions.  The pups were turned over to FWC and brought to SWS.  They were inbred, accidentally due to fencing damage, and it is unknown whether the mother's father or brother is the sire.

Tien was born grey, unusual as most wild wolves are born darker and become lighter.  His brother Chocowa was white and sister Indy was black.  All three nearly died several times due to the problems they came with: coccidia, staph, ringworm and hookworms.  They required daily IV fluids and daily ringworm baths.  All three were fostered in a home as normal domestic dogs would be but demonstrate that you cannot force an animal to be social.  Tien is very outgoing and will greet any stranger willingly.  Chocowa will warm up to new people quickly but isn't as outgoing as Tien.  Indy wants nothing to do with new people until she has seen them around for awhile and knows they mean no harm.   

The three pups were initially put in with Wenatchee and Julie.  We decided to move Tien and Indy into their own enclosure after awhile.  Tien was being corrected by Wenatchee every time he re-entered the enclosure and Chocowa took advantage of the opportunity to try and elevate himself in the pack.  Julie broke her foot chasing Indy through the house one day…as Indy was the Omega in the group.  Moving Tien and Indy allowed him to greet guests as he enjoys without suffering repercussions and allowed Indy to grow into herself and quit looking over her shoulder every minute. 

Anyone who meets Tien and receives some of his "wolf kisses" may think they've died and gone to heaven…some feel that way by simply gazing into his wise and knowing eyes.