Studio City Rallies to Save Coyote With Swollen Face

For almost a year, a coyote with an extremely swollen face roamed through Studio City, California, and the neighbors who spotted her knew she needed help.

They named her Wendy and started watching over her. A newspaper delivery boy would leave water and small scraps of food for her, texting photos to local rescuers to track her condition.

When Barbara Perrin's son spotted Wendy recently, he immediately called his mom. Perrin, who usually rescues cats and dogs through the nonprofit Saving Grace LA, learned that the whole neighborhood had been keeping tabs on the suffering coyote.

"People really cared about her, which was amazing to see," Perrin said.

Perrin shared Wendy's story on social media and connected with Wildlife Care of Southern California. Southern California Pitbull Rescue joined the effort too, setting up cameras at locations where Wendy had been spotted so rescuers could monitor her movements.

After weeks of coordination between neighbors, rescue organizations, and volunteers, Wendy was finally captured this week. She's now receiving antibiotics, medicine, nutritious food, and rest at Wildlife Care of Southern California.

The cause of her facial swelling remains a mystery. Some neighbors believe she was hit by a car, while Perrin suspects a serious infection, but veterinarians are still investigating.

Sunny's Take

What makes Wendy's story so heartwarming isn't just that she was rescued. It's how an entire community rallied around a wild animal they had no obligation to help.

They shared her pictures across social media. They followed her movements through the neighborhood. They contacted rescue organizations and donated thousands of dollars for her medical care.

"I think Wendy is a testament to so many people caring and wanting to help and reaching out," Perrin said.

Wendy was just a wild coyote living on the streets, but when people saw she was suffering, they decided she mattered. They could have looked the other way, but they chose compassion instead.

Now Wendy has something she didn't have before: a real chance to heal, surrounded by people who refused to give up on her.