Stray Dog Becomes A Member Of Wild Coyote Pack, The End Results Are Baffling
Many people aren't aware of the rising population of coyotes. Naturally, it might not be the most exciting thing to catch your attention. However, for people with pets that like to venture on their own occasionally, this should be on their radar. One day, two humane society workers, Sarah Nace and Nicole Asher, witnessed a stray dog surrounded by wild coyotes in Kingston, New York. At first, they feared for the dog, but after closer examination, the truth revealed itself. Dive in and discover the shocking events that happened with this dog dealing with the pack of coyotes.
Sarah Nace Sees Trouble
Nace works with Lost Pets of Hudson Valley and is fully aware of the rising coyote population in the area she lives in. One day, she took notice of a stray dog running around Kingston, New York.
Her natural response was to be worried about the safety of the dog, as we all would all be if we knew there was a potential threat out there with the coyotes. She knew that she should attempt to capture the dog and take him to the rescue shelter where he would be safe.
An Interesting Connection
Nace simply wanted the dog to have a friendly family to look after him in a safe home. Then she noticed that the stray dog wasn't so stray. It was a member of the wild pack of coyotes! Nace reached out to her local dog shelter for help.
Founder of Buddha Dog Rescue, Nicole Asher answered the call and discussed how she and Nace could find the dog in the forest in New York and safely take him away from the coyotes.
Breaking Down The Situation
A dog becoming friends with a pack of coyotes isn't something that happens every day. Because of that, Asher needed to observe the situation. She had to figure out what was going on.
“He was being sighted constantly, playing with them, running with them,” founder Asher said in an interview. “How he integrated with them we don’t know. We have no idea.” Above all else, the coyotes had seemed to take a liking to the dog.
This Happens In Nature, But Not In The Real World
A dog getting inducted into a coyote pack isn't something you see every day. There are few wild dogs running around the forest who live a long life, as many domestic dogs don't know how to fend for themselves. However, it's possible.
“It’s not unheard of," Asher said. "There are ‘coy dogs’ out there, coyote-dog hybrids, [which] happen when dogs and coyotes mate. But it’s rarely seen in person—you know, dogs hanging with coyotes.” The reason why coyotes aren't accepting is something you might expect.
Coyotes Don't Trust Easily
No one should ever expect a coyote to be warm and welcoming. They share a few of the same traits as dogs and produce similar noises, but they are way more fierce than meets the eye. A coyote is not one who trusts or accepts readily.
Humans and even big dogs can make the coyote flustered, which is why they like to keep their distance. The stray dog must have left a great first impression for these Kingston coyotes to let him join the pack.
Making The Right Decision
The stray dog might have fit in well with the coyotes, but experts still weren't convinced. The folks over at Buddha Dog Rescue & Recovery examined the dog's coyote-like tendencies but thought a different environment would be better for him in the long run.
A place with a yard, regularly scheduled meals, and more frequent belly rubs are the goals of Buddha Dog Rescue & Recovery for this pup. This prompted Asher to decide to attempt to capture the canine.
Putting A Plan In Action
How do you capture a dog that runs with coyotes? Since this isn't Looney Tunes, Asher had to formulate a proper strategy. It wasn't going to be easy catching this stray dog safely.
“The first thing we needed to do was get the dog constantly coming back to a certain spot,” Asher explained. “We set up a feeding station monitored by a trail camera.” Eventually, the dog showed up and munched. However, how would she separate him from the coyotes?
Bring On The Trap
Soon enough, the dog became familiar with the location of the food and made regular appearances to eat. Asher knew it was time to set a trap for the unsuspecting doggo.
In just two nights, the dog eventually walked right into the cage set up for him. Perhaps Asher expected a tougher challenge, but he was able to be effortlessly captured. “He was a fairly easy trapping,” Asher remembered. We're sure she would love for all of her catches to be that easy.
Transitioning The Dog Back To Normalcy
After Asher captured the dog, she decided to give him an official name. She had Looney Tunes on her mind because she named him Wiley after the crazy coyote continually trying to catch the roadrunner.
The two ventured out to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland, New Jersey to begin Wiley's new life and treatment. Since Wiley was hanging with the coyotes for so long, he needed a lot of help. The road to recovery then began.
The Shocking Results
As it turns out, Wiley was a mess. The crew had to take all the ticks off of him and then gave him a well-deserved bath. Once they finished the cleaning job, it was time to take a few tests.
Sadly, Wiley had multiple diseases. Wiley got diagnosed with Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. The latter affected the heart and made Wiley anemic. Since both of these were severe, they had to take immediate action.
Perfect Timing
Everything happens for a reason, or so they say. In this case, if Nace had not called Asher to help when she did, then perhaps Wiley would have been in some serious danger.
The team of rescuers helped Wiley a great deal. They gave him plenty of antibiotics and showed him relentless love and affection. Fatigue, rashes, and headaches are a few symptoms that Lyme disease cause. The coyotes may have accepted him, but they couldn't have helped Wiley the way the rescuers can.
Finding His Original Home
After Wiley received the proper treatment, the rescuers started another mission. We know the coyotes weren't his true home, so they sought out to find if he had a place to call home.
Some dogs have a microchip inserted in them, so they started by checking for one, but didn't have any luck. Next, they looked for any missing dog inquiries, and still nothing. The last chance was to spot any form of identification. They couldn't find anything.
Asher's Thoughts On The Situation
The team put in so much effort attempting to find out if Wiley had a previous owner. It got to the point of exhaustion and hopelessness. It looked like they were going to have to find a new home for this stray dog.
“We don’t know if he’s someone’s lost pet; we’ve been scouring the internet, calling the local authorities,” Asher stated. “There’ve been no reports of lost dogs fitting his description. We think he was either a stray or dumped.”
The Big Question Arises
After all the tests and searching for his rightful home, a serious set of questions were burning to become answered. First, the team did some research of their own on little Wiley.
They determined that he was about two years old. Next, they pieced together that he was stray for about 18 months. So, one of the questions was if Wiley would ever be able to become a regular dog. Did the wild lifestyle rub off on him too much?
Getting Back On Track
Luckily for Wiley, he turned out to be a warrior of a dog. With the odds were stacked against him, but he persevered through and eventually became healthy enough to become adopted.
Asher spoke very highly of his situation stating: “I think he’s going to be ready for adoption fairly quickly. He’s a sweetheart. He was leaning on me, smooching on me. A lot of these rescue dogs are incredibly grateful. People think, ‘Oh my God, they’re gonna be wild.’ But it’s not the case at all.”
The Big Marshmallow
It didn't take long for Wiley to get back up to speed. After living in the wild for so long, it was as a bit of a shock. It turns out the former coyote runner was one of the nicest dogs to come around.
Volunteer Frannie Laurita gave him the nickname "big marshmallow." She said he would play with his toys all day long. He loved his toys only second to getting rubbed and pet!
He's A Natural
For a dog that blended in with a pack of coyotes, do you think it would be hard for Wiley to get along with a new human family? Our answer is no, and that's what everyone at the shelter believed as well.
For such a young dog, Wiley has gone through a lot, but he still has so much life left to live. Perhaps the coyotes helped him in a way, but what happened to them?
The Coyotes Are Still Free in the Forest
If you're wondering where the coyotes are, they're still on the loose in Kingston. Meanwhile, Wiley is preparing to become someone's best friend while the coyotes are continuing to increase their population.
As surprising as it was to see Wiley become a member of the wild pack, it was better seeing him recover so well. If licks are a form of thanks, he's giving many thanks to all those who saved him.
The Coyotes Keep Coming
As years go by, the coyote population continues to grow and spread. While this is a good thing for coyotes, it remains to be seen how it will affect animals that aren't wild, as well as the families living near them.
And by the naked eye, coyotes often look identical to some dogs. Imagine one getting mixed up with your dog. You may think it's another harmless domestic dog, but it's a sharp-toothed dangerous animal. Man's best friend may now be in trouble.
Owners, Be Cautious
The bigger the population, the more coyotes are leaking into neighborhoods in search of food. It's not the coyote's fault; they are merely searching for survival. At the same time, others are aware of the threat this can cause.
Pet owners should be on the short list of those concerned. No one would want anything happening to their dog. Cats are also at risk for being subjected to coyotes.
This Monkey Was Found Orphaned And Scared For His Life
This little guy's name is Horace. This vervet monkey lives at the Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary in Zimbabwe, Africa. Horace was taken to Twala as a baby after losing his mother in a tragic accident.
"His mom had been hit by a car on a very busy highway. He was found sitting on her body, on the side of the road. He's lucky that he got picked up by the right person, who then brought him here," Twala founder Sarah Carter told The Dodo in 2016.
The Baby Monkey Was Timid In The Caring Hands Of Humans
Horace was just a helpless infant when he was first taken to the Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary. The tiny primate might have been frightened at first in his new environment, but luckily he was in good hands.
Twala provides a safe haven for wildlife creatures in need. As a result, the rescue is home to a variety of different species including cats, dogs, lions, and antelope. You would think that the situation wouldn't fare well, but you'd be surprised...
Some Unlikely Creatures Were There To Help Horace Fit In
For a young vervet like Horace, it might have been intimidating to see all these different animals in the same space. Thankfully, all the animals at the rescue were very welcoming to the newbie.
"Since we had so many orphans at the time, and not enough hands, we had to raise everyone together... They just formed this relationship, which is great," says Carter. It was just up to Horace to warm up to his new roommates. The kittens weren't the only ones who wanted to be friends with Horace either.
It Took Some Time, But Horace Eventually Warmed Up To Them
As Horace grew up at Twala, he began warming up to his new friends. The rescue has a variety of wild and domestic animals, but Horace was first drawn to the equally adorable kittens.
Perhaps they were less intimidating because they were similar in size and, after all, who could be afraid of a kitten?! But soon enough, Horace grew close to the older members of the rescue, who learned to accept the monkey as one of their own as you'll see next.
Horace Developed A Special Connection With The Cats
Soon enough, Horace was comfortable enough to snuggle up to his new feline friends. Being that they were around as he was growing up, Horace most likely felt a special bond towards them.
Aside from his human caretakers, these felines probably felt obligated to care for this orphaned monkey. A lot of people see cats as finicky animals, but here you can clearly see how open and loving they can be – especially towards other animals!
Soon The Other Animals Started Warming Up To Horace Too
Pretty soon, Horace was making friends with more of the animals at Twala. One of his closest pals would be Keiko, one of several rescue dogs who also lived at the sanctuary.
Twala is home to a variety of wild and domestic animals who've been abandoned or abused. Sarah Carter and her team continually work hard to provide a safe and nurturing environment for these animals who otherwise might not have made it on their own in the wild. You'll laugh when you see what antics Horace is always up to!
Horace Developed A Reputation For Some Particular Things
As he grew up, Horace earned a reputation for napping a lot. Horace has a tendency to fall asleep anywhere, especially when he's cuddling with one of his feline friends. It must be the comfort of having someone around to make you feel protected.
"Horace is a master napper. He fights it though as he is afraid he will miss something... And he loves to nap and sleeps anywhere he pleases," Carter told Daily Mail in 2015.
Horace Is Like A Real-Life Curious George
Horace has even made friends with the resident antelope at Twala. He may seem like a bit of a nuisance, but the animals know that it's just Horace's playful and curious nature. There is never any true roughhousing between these animals.
"Horace is hugely confident and affectionate having been raised in a very diverse and loving environment at Twala," says Carter. "He has many friends, human and animal, and is seldom alone. He is mischievous, extremely clever and endlessly entertaining."
Horace Always Wants What He Knows He Can't Have
"His biggest vice is being irresistibly drawn to the forbidden food he is not allowed to eat, places he shouldn't be, objects he is not supposed to touch," Carter told Daily Mail.
Horace may be a bit of a food-stealer, but lucky for him it was actually snack time when this photo was taken. The animals often share meals together and often eat a healthy buffet of natural fruits and veggies. Horace also spends so much time with other species that he starts to act like them too!
Horace Is More Mischevious Than Meets The Eye
Here are Horace and resident rescue cat Freddie. Horace appears to be napping on top of Freddie, but Carter warns that just might be a ploy.
She told Daily Mail, "Horace always makes me laugh, he is a consummate thief - he pretends to be otherwise engaged whilst sidling up to you to pinch a pen or a bit of paper or food. He will also come and cuddle someone, person or animal, as a ploy to distract them to steal something."
Horace Finds Fascination In Everything
"He is insatiably curious - into everything, and often comes and watches me writing or typing with absolute fascination, before stealing my pen or jumping on the keyboard," Carter said.
The other animals at the sanctuary don't seem to mind. In fact, they are happy to allow Horace's curiosity to flourish. At Twala, the animals miraculously coexist without having their animal instincts take a dangerous turn. This is probably thanks to the nurturing environment in which they were brought up.
Horace Likes To Roam With The Cats At Night
Horace has also taken on a lot of his friends' characteristics as well. Though he is a vervet monkey, Horace sometimes likes to act like a cat.
"He runs around in the middle of the night, in the dark, with the cats.. All the other monkeys got to sleep when it starts to get dark because that's their instinct. Meanwhile, Horace is busy running around the garden at 10 o'clock at night. He's a character," Carter told The Dodo. What is the secret to making these odd friendships work?
Horace Thinks He Is A Little Prince Among His Friends
Being the sleepy monkey that he is, Horace is sometimes too lazy to walk on his own. But no worries! Keiko is happy to give Horace a ride to wherever he needs to go around the sanctuary.
Horace may be growing into his adult years, but he still likes to act like the baby of the bunch. His dog and cat friends, hilariously annoyed as they may seem in the photos, at least treat Horace like their own baby brother.
Horace And His Pals Have Each Other As Support
Horace and the other animals are lucky to have been found and taken to Twala. They'll grow up with a strong support system that might not have been possible if not for the diverse array of inhabitants.
Some might say that goes against Horace's nature, but Carter would disagree. "Here [he] has friends and he's safe. He has the backup of everyone here at the sanctuary - people and animals," she told The Dodo. This was especially true after Horace was found in his own tragic accident!
Pairing Animals With Different Species Is Actually Healing
Freddie is one of Horace's favorite cuddling pals as you can see. Even though the animals are all of a different species, the Sarah Carter's sanctuary only proves that all creatures might share an empathetic instinct.
"We get lots of orphaned animals coming in, so you can't always pair them with the same animal. But for them to be able to be with another creature is really healing and comforting for them, no matter if they're different," said Carter.
When Another Baby Vervet Came, Horace Took Responsibility
Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary tries to pair animals with their same species if they can. So when another vervet orphan came tot he sanctuary, they knew just who to pair him with!
Now that Horace is older, he takes care of newcomers whenever they're introduced into the sanctuary. This little monkey is Hamish, who was an orphan just like Horace. Horace felt a special connection with this little guy since Hamish is reminiscent of himself as a baby.
Horace Showed Hamish The Comforts Of Cuddling
Hamish was attached to Horace for much of his upbringing in the sanctuary. Of course, Horace was happy to oblige to offer comfort. But that didn't mean that Horace still didn't need comfort on his own!
Carter told The Dodo that Horace has shown them how much comfort animals of different species can find solace within each other. "We learned that from Horace," she said. "They form these amazing bonds. It just brings so much comfort to all of them."
Horace's Playfulness Ended With Him Losing An Arm
Horace may be an adult now but that doesn't mean he still doesn't get into some trouble. In 2016, Twala shared the unnerving news that Horace suffered an intense electrical shock from a power line.
"He was found unconscious and severely burnt on both arms. It is an absolute miracle that he survived such a massic shock... Horace has always lived free, as he should do, but... we cannot protect him from the many dangers that animals face in the world," they wrote on Facebook.
Horace Can Go Back To The Wild, But Why Would He?
Though he survived the shock, the vets did have to amputate one of his arms. But that hasn't slowed Horace down. After recovery, it was back to his awesome life at the sanctuary.
"Horace is free to go wherever he wants. There's nothing stopping him from leaving. He chooses to stay... He really does have the best life," Carter told The Dodo. Horace is perfectly healthy and grown now, but the sanctuary isn't making him stay. He really has no reason to leave!
