Many of us grew up laughing at Wile E. Coyote’s antics, but in real life, seeing a coyote near your home is no laughing matter — especially if you’re a pet owner. The worry that one might harm your furry family member is enough to keep you on edge.
A few years ago, Meredith Warfel and her family from Arizona had what they believed was their first real-life “coyote” encounter. At least, that’s what it seemed at first glance.
Late one night, a mysterious canine wandered into their yard. In the dim moonlight, its resemblance to a coyote was uncanny. Meredith had no idea that this unexpected visitor would turn out to be something — and someone — completely different.
The Mystery Visitor
The strange canine returned to Meredith’s backyard several nights in a row. One evening, she snapped a picture and posted it online. The responses were almost unanimous: “It’s a coyote!”
But Meredith wasn’t convinced. This animal seemed far too relaxed, even curling up to sleep on the patio furniture like it owned the place. That didn’t exactly fit the image of a wary prairie predator.
Her instincts were spot-on.
The “coyote” was actually a dog — likely abandoned on a hiking trail near the Warfels’ home and wandering in search of shelter.
“We don’t really know what her backstory is. My best guess is that somebody might have abandoned her in the hiking trail close to our house and she made her way to us,” Meredith explains in the video.
The family didn’t waste time. The dog was thin, clearly malnourished, and in poor condition, so they brought her to a local humane society. Meredith hoped she had a family out there who would come forward to claim her.
Over the next three days, the Warfels visited the dog — now named Luna — at the shelter, keeping their fingers crossed that her original owners would show up.
That day never came. But the twist in Luna’s story was a happy one. Before long, she was officially adopted… by the very people who first found her.
Luna returned to the same doorstep, only this time she wasn’t a mystery visitor. She was home.
Life As The Beloved “Princess”
Calling Luna “the sweetest member of the family” might still be an understatement. She’s fully settled into her role as the household princess, enjoying a life filled with love, comfort, and play.
She adores cuddles, couch time, and showering her humans with affection. Her bond with the kids and even her feline siblings is heartwarming to witness.
“She’s incredibly loyal and loves the kids. She’s so affectionate and sweet, and she just loves cuddles. If you sit down, she will find your lap in about two seconds and lay down in it,” Meredith says.
Luna has fully embraced her second chance at life. She plays frisbee, dashes around the yard, takes dips in the pool, and even lounges on floaties, basking in the Arizona sun.
Her exact breed might be a mystery, but to her family, there’s no question at all — Luna is absolutely perfect. And they couldn’t be more grateful for the twist of fate that brought her into their lives.