‘I rescued a puppy to nurse it back to health – but people are telling me it’s not a dog’

A woman found a “whimpering” and “shivering” abandoned puppy at the bottom of her garden, only to learn that she was actually taking care of a wild animal.

Meg Alexandra is a mother who was getting her family prepared for tornado season when she discovered a newborn injured puppy in the corner of her garden who has extremely cold and hungry.

She immediately wrapped the helpless pup in a towel and took him inside to feed him some milk, but soon learned the puppy was actually a baby coyote.

After giving him a bath, Meg discovered that the baby coyote had an infection, and was covered in maggots, so she decided to keep him in her home for the time being while reaching out to local rescue centres.

Meg said: “I’m trying to get him to a wildlife rescue so this sweet boy can recover.”

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Meg has documented the baby coyote’s recovery on her TikTok account @meg.alexandra88, where she explained that he had a “serious wound” under his tail and that she had reached out to multiple rescue centres to get him the care he needs.

Unfortunately, it is illegal to rehabilitate coyotes in the state Meg lives in, but she posted that the rescue centres were sending her medicine and resources on how to take care of the baby coyote.

In a TikTok video, Meg said: “He has a long way to go but I’m hoping he’ll make a full recovery as soon as possible.”

Meg has said she has “gone back and forth” on how much she wishes to share on social media due to how popular the baby coyote has become, but has said her new pet is “feeling much better.”

Meg has been posting videos of her feeding the baby coyote, as well as showing video footage of him cuddled up in a blanket next to her and playing with her just like a domesticated puppy would.

However, commentators on Meg’sTikTok videos have been arguing about what her next step should be, and if she should keep the baby coyote as a pet or not.

One person said: “He’s cute now, but this is a wild animal. He will NOT behave like a domestic dog. Yes, they can be kept as pets but by experienced people.”

A second person said: “Take him to a rescue so he can be released to the wild. He’s not a domestic animal and at some point, his instincts will take over!”

However, some people have argued the baby coyote is now too domesticated to go into the wild.

One woman wrote: “My dad is a veterinarian, and unfortunately you can never release him to the wild. He’ll be too comfortable approaching humans.”

Another person said: “Stuff any rules when it comes to saving any animal. Keep him and care for him.”

Somebody else said: “Coyotes are great to have around the home. My dad has a farm and has two he raised since they were born. This pup is meant for you.”

In her last update, Meg said she and the baby coyote were “getting through this”

She revealed that the baby coyote was much healthier and said: “He’s eating, he’s drinking, he’s very loving. He is good.”

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