WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — The wolf hybrids mistaken for “black coyotes” in Warwick last spring have since made themselves at home in Ohio.

Willow and Wiley, who have since been dubbed the “401 Girls,” were brought to a wolfdog sanctuary called the Red Riding Hood Rescue Project after spending nearly a month at the Warwick Animal Shelter. While it is legal to own wolf hybrids in Ohio, Rhode Island is one of 12 states where it’s against the law.

The dogs gained notoriety after the two were spotted roaming around near Oakland Beach in April 2023. The sisters spent several days on the lam, sauntering down streets, running through yards and playing with one another along the shoreline.

The wolfdogs were initially thought to be coyotes, until it was discovered that the two were intentionally set loose from a home on Powhatan Street. The two residents who intentionally released the wolfdogs were arrested and are facing animal cruelty and abandonment charges.

Susan Vogt, president of the Red Riding Hood Rescue Project, tells 12 News the puppies are now “huge” and will continue to grow for another year.

Vogt said the sanctuary’s digital analytics have revealed that residents from Warwick and Providence have been regularly keeping tabs on the dogs. The sanctuary is raising money to build a new perimeter fence, and has already received a $1,500 match from a Rhode Island donor.

“These girls have brought Ohio and Rhode Island together in a way that we never would have believed,” Vogt said. “People wanted a happy ending for these silly, plotting, clever girls and they can see it here at our rescue.”

Anyone interested in donating to the sanctuary’s fundraiser for the perimeter fence can do so by clicking here.