On a bitterly cold, snowy morning in Pennsylvania, Christina Eyth stepped outside her home and noticed something unusual.
Fresh paw prints, likely from a dog, were leading directly to her doorstep.
Paw Prints Lead To A Heartbreaking Sight
Concerned and curious, Christina decided to follow the trail to see where it ended.
“I saw that there were dog prints that went up to my door like he was looking in for help,” said Christina.
The tracks led her to the basement entrance, and what she found there was heartbreaking.
“That’s when I saw this poor animal. He looked so cold and was shivering,” Christina recalled.
There, curled up and trembling, was a freezing animal. But as Christina looked closer, she realized she couldn’t tell exactly what kind of creature it was.
A Mysterious Animal In Need
Despite her uncertainty, Christina’s priority was to get the animal out of the cold.
She quickly brought it into her basement, offering food and water to help it recover.
Its skin was in poor condition, likely due to mange, making it difficult to identify the species.
I wasn’t completely sure, but he never showed signs of aggression. I just saw an animal in need of help and wanted to help him.
Searching For Answers
Looking for guidance, Christina posted a photo of the animal on a local message board. Soon, a volunteer from Tj’s Rescue Hideaway in Pennsylvania reached out.
Even the rescue team couldn’t determine the animal’s species, but they agreed it needed immediate care.
“Maria [the group’s organizer] and her team came out and were able to catch him without hurting him at all. [They] transported him to Wildlife Works-Mount Pleasant to get treatment and testing done to confirm what he is.”
Although the DNA results would take time, the team began treatment right away. The animal was extremely thin and suffering from advanced mange. Nervous and unsure around the staff, it required gentle handling.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Just days after arriving at the facility, the unidentified animal escaped and disappeared. Despite efforts to locate it, it was never found again.
Eventually, the DNA results arrived.
The test confirmed the animal was a coyote. It had returned to its natural habitat in the wild.
Christina wasn’t upset by the news. She felt confident she had done the right thing.
“No matter the results of the test, I wouldn’t have changed anything I did to help him,” she said.