It’s not every day that someone discovers an unfamiliar animal in their yard, especially when the creature’s condition adds to the mystery. This was the experience of Sharon Betrozzi, who found what she believed to be an old, sick dog hiding under her porch in Folsom, California.
Concerned for the animal’s welfare, Sharon quickly called City of Folsom Animal Services for assistance. Little did she know, she was in for a surprise when the officers arrived. CONTINUE BELOW
After nearly four hours of the animal lying motionless, the animal services team took a closer look and realized that what Sharon thought was a dog was actually a very sick coyote. The revelation left her in shock, but there was no time to waste—the coyote needed immediate help.
According to a post from City of Folsom Animal Services on Facebook, the young coyote was suffering from a severe case of mange. The team promptly decided to transport her to Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR) in Loomis, California. Before she left, they named her Princess and wished her well. CONTINUE BELOW
Upon her arrival at GCWR, the staff quickly assessed Princess’s condition. In addition to mange, she was severely dehydrated. Determined to save her, they began treatment right away, administering rehydration fluids and medications. “She was bathed to help remove dead skin and make her more comfortable. The next morning, we were delighted to find she had consumed all the water and special diet food we left for her overnight,” said Sallysue Stein, president of GCWR’s board of directors.
After several days of intensive care, Princess showed significant improvement. Once her health stabilized, her caretakers gradually returned her to a natural diet, which helped her gain weight and restore her fur. Eventually, Princess was deemed ready for a return to the wild and was transferred to Sierra Wildlife Rescue, where she could interact with other coyotes. CONTINUE BELOW
Her moment of freedom came alongside her fellow coyotes from the rescue, as she was released back into the wild—a sight that embodied the spirit of freedom after all she had endured. Though she was back where she belonged, deep down, Princess likely held onto the memories of those who had helped her on her journey to recovery.
