When a coyote was found trapped, huddling in an empty reservoir in Solvang, California, little did rescuers know that not only were they saving a wounded animal's life, they were saving the lives of five coyote pups.
Julia Di Sieno found the badly injured and emaciated female coyote. The animal was blind in both eyes and as Di Sieno was getting it out of the crevice, it went into cardiac arrest.
Assistants lowered a gurney into the hole, along with medical supplies. Di Sieno gave the animal a shot of epinephrine and started chest compressions before rushing the wounded, nearly dead, canine to a veterinary hospital, the Los Angeles Times reported.
X-rays later found that the animal, which was now known as Angel, had been shot between the eyes. She was also pregnant.
A few weeks ago, Angel gave birth to five puppies.
"What this animal endured is beyond comprehension," Di Sieno said.
She plans on caring for the pups until they are old enough to be released into the wild.
But Di Sieno has big plans for Angel, if she's permitted to keep her, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"I want Angel to become a member of the rescue team's family as an imprintable surrogate mother for young coyotes that come our way," Di Sieno said.
But in California, it is illegal to keep a coyote unless a permit is given by the state.
"I have to persuade the state Department of Fish and Wildlife not to euthanize her - and that won't be easy," Di Sieno said.
A department spokesman said, "We are working to find a reasonable solution as quickly as possible."
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