Stray Dog Who Fought Off Pack of Coyotes for 45 Minutes Finds Forever Home
It was a harrowing scene caught on home security footage in Southern California—a young stray dog, alone and outnumbered, surrounded by a pack of coyotes. For nearly 45 minutes, the dog held his ground, fending off the wild animals just outside the home of Steve and Melissa Shatynski near Brea Canyon in Orange County.
The one-year-old German Shepherd-Lab mix managed to keep the coyotes at bay, sometimes signalling submissively, and at other times standing his ground. “In the video, the dog is submissive going as far as [tucking] its tail and even sitting,” Rebecca Dmytryk director of Humane Wildlife Control,” said in an email to KTLA. “This showed respect to the coyotes that were messaging it to stay away and to back down. It complied and the coyotes responded, leaving it alone.” Eventually, the coyotes retreated, leaving the dog unharmed.
After the confrontation, the dog disappeared into the nearby canyon. But as his story made headlines, people began searching for him, determined he should be rescued. He was eventually found, caught, and brought to OC Animal Care, where staff named him Duke.
The shelter described Duke as a healthy, happy dog—an ideal companion and, clearly, a capable guard dog. “Duke is a shy but friendly boy who loves hanging out with other dogs. Once he warms up, he enjoys doing zoomies, playing in the pool, and engaging with his handlers. Duke likes going on walks, receiving pets, and sitting for treats,” his adoption listing read.
As the days past, some animal advocates grew concerned Duke might be put down at the shelter due to overcrowding before he got his second chance. But OC Animal Care shared the wonderful news that Duke has found a forever home: “We are so happy to report that Duke, our fearless coyote fighter, has been adopted! He will now spend his days with his mom, dad, and two furry sisters. We are so excited for Duke and his new family!”
In a video shared by the shelter, Duke shyly approached his mom when he first met her before happily leaning in for a cuddle before going on his freedom ride.
It’s heartwarming to see a young dog like Duke getting a chance to become a family dog and get the loving home he deserves.
Animal experts and the authorities are reminding pet parents to be vigilant for coyote activity in their neighborhoods because not all pets are as lucky as Duke. Coyotes behave more protectively than usual between March and May because it is their breeding season. Read our article Protecting Your Dog From Coyotes for tips on how to keep your dog safe.