A coyote pup was rescued with the help of two good Samaritans after it fell into a lake in Cape Coral, Florida, on Monday morning, according to the fire department.
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Officials responded to a call about a dog in a canal in Britannia Lake, a body of water located about 14 miles south of Fort Myers—but instead found a coyote pup in the water paddling “from shore to shore.”
The Cape Coral Fire Department said that a neighbor named Brian initially saw the animal fall into the lake. He jumped into the water hoping to rescue it, which caught the attention of bystanders, leading to the initial calls to 911.
Videoshows firefighters going under the docks and reaching for the animal. Scared, the coyote was trying to swim away, but authorities grabbed the pup by the nape of the neck and successfully carried the pup out of the water.
Kayaker Denae Judd noticed the rescue mission and offered to help. From her kayak, she monitored the pup’s location and let the fire crew know it had crawled up under a dock.
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Firefighters were able to pull the coyote from the warm waters of the lake.
Crews took the animal to East West Veterinary Care Center, which authorities said will coordinate moving it to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife for its recovery.
According to the fire department, the pup was exhausted from trying to reach safety and is currently unable to be released.
Officials presented both Brian and Judd with a Community Recognition Coin for their help saving the coyote.
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