This little chap got himself into a prickly pickle! Thanks to an observant lady’s help, he was able to be extricated from the pretty painful experience.
On May 14, 2013, at around 6:30 a.m., Gwen Maxwell, 86, was on her way out when she noticed some sort of baby puppy crossing the road nearby her home in Sun City West, Arizona. She also happened to notice something wasn’t quite right.
Upon closer inspection, the “puppy” was covered in cacti.
Gwen could not see its head or face, so she was still not sure if it was a pup after all!
Gwen rushed to help, but suddenly the poor thing, which was hampered by seven clumps of cholla cactus that stuck into its legs, face, and shoulders, collapsed in pain.
Upon closer examination, it was revealed to be a baby coyote. The mother was waiting and watching anxiously nearby.
“She kept coming back and holding a vigil in my backyard,” said Gwen.
Two men from nearby Pebblebrook Golf Course—maintenance worker Jose Soto and Assistant Superintendent Shawn Bordine—came to the rescue of the poor animal.
Wearing thick gloves and using a pair of pliers, they managed to cut free the baby coyote from its prickly prison of thorns.
Although he was a little bloody and bruised, the little pup was brave and “amazingly cool” during and throughout the whole ordeal. He was a perfect patient.
Once freed from a horrible experience, he was as happy as can be.
After getting some photos, Soto and Bordine set the coyote pup on the ground, and everyone watched as he ran straight home to his mother. As quickly as they appeared, they disappeared again into the bush.
What an eventful day for Gwen Maxwell and the kind golf course maintenance staff. We are sure the coyote pup will never forget the day he fell into the cacti!
