We have 14 Russian domesticated foxes, three non-Russian foxes, two coyotes, a wolf and

three new guinea singing dogs.

Meet Amy Bassett, not your average pet owner.

In fact, the animals she just rattled off, not actually her pets.

Amy and her husband Dave are the founders of a special conservation center in Southern

California.

Their mission is to teach people about canines that aren't dogs, but deserve our loving

affection nonetheless.

And then to also make people want to be advocates for them.

Because who doesn't want to cuddle up to a fox, a coyote, or better yet, a wolf?

I'm Boda Lair and this is Atlas Obscura, a celebration of the world's strange, incredible

and wondrous places.

Today, we're going to Santa Giazabel, California, to the Judith A. Bassett, Canad, Education

and Conservation Center.

And with us are the Bassets, who dedicated their lives to showing folks, man has even more

best friends than previously thought, more after this.

Okay, so before we get started, quick vocab lesson.

The name of the center is the Judith A. Bassett, Canad, Education and Conservation Center.

A canad is a mammal of the dog family, you know, wolves, coyotes, jackals, etc.

Typically we say canine, which works also, but canad is the more proper term.

All right, now that we got that in order, onto the episode.

Amy and Dave founded the center together, but they come from very different backgrounds.

...