A kind soul was driving by and saw a puppy-like animal sitting alone on the side of the road and knew he had to stop and help.
The man put it in a cardboard box and took it to the police station in Bartlett, Illinois. Because I knew the cops there would help.
strange looking dog
policeman holding a dog
At the police station, he met Sergeant Kyle Rybasky, who was happy to pick up stray dogs and take them to the local animal shelter.
But upon closer inspection, Sergeant Kyle and his colleagues realized that the puppy in the crate was nothing like your old dog.
“We soon realized that it wasn’t the average puppy. When I picked her up, her fur had a different feel to it. It was wiry. Her paws were a bit bigger than the average dog, too. Her sharp nails also drew our attention,” said Sergeant Kyle.
While looking at the puppy more closely, the police crew started to wonder more and more as to what breed this strange puppy actually was.
Doing a quick internet search, informing himself of what baby coyotes look like, Sergeant Kyle was left shocked!
We found it looked just like a coyote. We were very excited. It’s not every day that you get to hold a coyote in your hands. Everybody was like, ‘Aww!’
Calling Reinforcements
Even though the baby coyote had seemed to wander off from his pack, she appeared to be in good health.
However, being too young to care for herself, the baby coyote couldn’t be returned to the wild just yet.
Reaching out to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center, Illinois, Sergeant Kyle explained the little misunderstanding that had happened and asked the shelter for some assistance.
The wildlife center swiftly made their way over to the police department, taking the little coyote into their care.
The staff reassured Sargent Kyle that she was in good hands, and would be accompanied by other coyotes until she grows up and is able to go back into the wild all by herself.
Final Word
This sure was one of those work days that Sergeant Kyle and his colleagues will never forget.
It was very rewarding, and it’s good to know that she’ll be taken care of. It was a really neat experience.
However, it is important to remember that if you ever knowingly do come across a coyote, you should observe from afar.
Since coyotes are Rabies-Vector Species, meaning they can carry rabies, approaching them could put you at risk of contracting this disease.
If you do find yourself in the presence of one, please contact your local animal control or wildlife rehabilitation center. They are trained professionals, and will know exactly what to do.
