Rescue Story: Woman Discovers “Coyote” in Her Yard — Turns Out to Be an Abandoned Dog

Sometimes, what appears wild at first glance is really just a soul in need of help. That’s exactly what happened to Meredith Warfel in her Arizona backyard when she noticed a mysterious animal lingering outside at night. At first, she thought it was a coyote — but she quickly realized she had stumbled upon a gentle, abandoned dog in search of safety.

A Mysterious Visitor

One night, Warfel noticed a medium-sized animal curled up on her patio furniture. Its coloring and size made her assume it was a coyote.

Over the next several days, the animal kept returning, spending its nights on her couch and patio chairs. Its friendly, skittish behavior led Warfel to suspect something else:

“We realized pretty quickly that a coyote wouldn’t sleep on a couch,” she said.

Posting Online and Discovering the Truth

Hoping to find its owner, Warfel posted photos of the animal on local social media groups. Most people still thought it was a wild coyote, but Warfel noticed subtle signs of gentleness.

“She was so nervous, but we could tell she was the sweetest,” Warfel said.

No one claimed her. It became apparent that someone had likely abandoned her on a nearby hiking trail.

Bringing Luna to Safety

The dog — later named Luna, inspired by the moonlight under which she first appeared — was clearly in distress.

“She came to us pretty beaten up,” Warfel explained. “She had a lot of cactus spines in her from being in the desert. She was really malnourished and underweight.”

Warfel took Luna to a local humane society, where staff confirmed she had no microchip. They kept her for three days to ensure nobody was looking for her, but Warfel visited daily, forging a connection that was impossible to ignore.

“While I hadn’t planned on adopting a dog, I realized I didn’t want to say goodbye,” Warfel said.

A New Life with a Loving Family

Once Luna officially joined the Warfel household, she quickly adjusted to life with kids, four cats, and even a bearded dragon. Her playful personality emerged, and she became inseparable from her new human family.

“She does think that she’s one of the kids, which she is,” Warfel laughed.

Luna’s favorite activities include playing Frisbee and lounging on pool floaties — though she prefers watching from the water’s edge rather than swimming.

A Life Saved and a Family Gained

Looking back, Warfel is grateful that Luna chose her yard as a safe place. That small act of trust was the first step toward a life filled with love and security.

“[I]t was meant to be,” Warfel said.

This story is a reminder that sometimes the animals who appear wild or frightened are simply looking for a safe human hand to guide them — and when we answer that call, lives can be transformed forever.