Wild Neighbors Sometimes Need a Hand, Too
Pasadena Humane Animal Control Officers are always on the front line when it comes to saving animals from sticky situations. Dogs have been rescued from hillsides, cats from under houses, raccoons from dumpsters- our ACOs have seen it all.
When a call came in early one morning it took 20-year veteran ACO Greg Murphy by surprise. A Pasadena resident woke up to find a full-sized adult coyote stuck in her backyard wooden fence. She wisely called Animal Control, and Officer Murphy responded to assess the animal and hopefully get him un-stuck.
Unfortunately, the coyote’s front legs was wedged into the fence pretty tightly, and he appeared to be in pain. Murphy decided the safest and most humane thing was to bring the animal to the shelter so the Wildlife team could determine the best course of action. Murphy used a restraining device and some ingenuity (literally giving the coyote a boost off the fence with the help of a large garbage can) to safely get the animal into his Animal Control truck.
With all wild animals, the shelter’s protocol is to treat injuries with the least amount of stress and with a focus on the long-term survival of the animals. The team decided that getting an x-ray of the leg would be the only way to see the extent of the injury.
Wildlife technicians carefully sedated their patient, and placed restraining equipment on him to make sure he would not struggle too much or pose any danger if he unexpectedly woke up, and swiftly got his x-ray taken. He was given fluids and a long-lasting antibiotic to fight off infection.
Luckily, the leg was not broken, but severely swollen, and the patient was moved to a secure extra-large dog crate to recover. By the next day, he was up and about, but did not seem to be at full strength. He was transferred to a wildlife rehabilitation center for further recovery and will likely be released back into the wild from there.
Pasadena Humane is committed to creating a healthy, sustainable community that values all species. We strive to mitigate the human impact on the natural world through conservation education and rehabilitation.
If you would like to find out more about how to peacefully coexist with our wild neighbors, we offer a series of wildlife community presentations, workshops and webinars throughout the year for adults, children, and workplaces.
