CAPE COD, Mass. — A Massachusetts family brought home a coyote pup by accident, thinking it was a dog that was lost.
The puppy, according to Boston 25 News, was found wandering and in distress by a side of a busy road. A family driving by the area was concerned for the pup and brought him home. It didn’t take long for them to realize they made a mistake, and they contacted the Cape Wildlife Center for assistance.
Cape Wildlife Center in a Facebook post says the pup is an Eastern Coyote pup that was separated from his family last week. They along with the Mass Department of Public Health were able to figure out that the pup didn’t have rabies or expose anyone to it before sending over to rehab by Mass Wildlife.
The pup is now recovering in the isolation wards, according to Cape Wildlife Center. He will soon be meeting a foster sibling, and they will both be raised together once they both get their vaccinations. The hope is that they will be released late this year back into the wild.
“This case had a happy ending, but it could have easily gone differently. Coyotes are considered a Rabies vector species in MA and are susceptible to contracting the virus that is deadly to all mammals including people. If the finders had been bitten, scratched, or had extended contact we would have been mandated to euthanize the pup and test for rabies. We are grateful to every single person who takes time out of their day to help wildlife when they are need, but we always encourage people to call the appropriate resources prior to intervening, it can help keep all involved safe!”
— Cape Wildlife Center
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