Abandoned dog taken in by a pack of coyotes in the Nevada desert
A domestic dog abandoned as a puppy and left to die in the Nevada desert has been taken in by a pack of coyotes for several months.
The white pooch has been spotted traveling with coyotes as a member of their pack by local residents since the summer, local NBC affiliate station KVVU reported.
The unlikely friendship has intrigued locals who have posted sightings of the dog, which they named “Ghost,” online for the past seven months, according to the outlet.
Ghost had been living among coyotes since at least July – when the first report of his closeness to wild animals was shared on social media.
“It looks like he was put there for seven to eight months and somehow the coyotes just accepted him,” said Susan McMullen of the southern trapping team. of Nevada, to KVVU.
Nearby residents regularly spotted the pack of dogs and coyotes, but were unable to approach Ghost, who quickly fled.
The dog, however, needed more human help than he thought.
McMullen said she had recently been informed that he was injured.
“He was actually running with them and eating with them, but he started limping and we were afraid the coyotes would turn on him,” she said.
She and her partner Timi Zondiros decided to step in and save him before things go wrong.
They spent days trying to find and catch Ghost until he finally fell into a trap they had set up on Saturday night.
“When he got into that crate…. He just sat down. I think he was relieved as well,” Zondiros said.
They took in Ghost and were quickly taken aback by his affection for people despite having lived most of his young life in the wild.
“He’s the sweetest, most affectionate dog… he comes up to you, he wants to be petted, he wants to be held,” Zondiros said.
Ghost’s face and body have been scarred from past battles, and he has a broken toe that needs to be amputated. He also suffered from skin issues and an ear infection, according to McMullen.
Despite all the injuries, he hasn’t shown any signs of aggression since McMullen and Zondiros took him in.
“I believe he’s going to be the best dog because they’re the most grateful, the ones who get saved…they feel it,” Zondiros said.
