After days of relentless rain swept through Southern California, floodwaters surged and debris piled up in places with nowhere to go. In the chaos, one animal found himself fighting for his life.
A Good Samaritan spotted what appeared to be a dog floating in the Tijuana River Valley — with a plastic bucket stuck over his head — and immediately called the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS).
“Our Humane Law Enforcement team was dispatched after reports of a dog struggling in floodwaters with a bucket on his head,” SDHS shared in a Facebook post.
Officers rushed to the scene and found the animal nearly submerged, surrounded by trash and unable to free himself. With the bucket completely covering his face, rescuers couldn’t tell exactly who he was — but they knew they had to act fast.
The terrain was too dangerous to reach on foot.
“Due to the difficult conditions, the only way to reach the animal was by boat,” SDHS wrote. San Diego lifeguards stepped in to help transport humane officers across the water.
When the team finally reached the exhausted animal, they were stunned.
“He turned out not to be a dog at all,” SDHS said. “He was a coyote.”
Carefully wrapping him in a towel, rescuers lifted the frightened coyote from the freezing water and rushed him to the Bahde Wildlife Center for emergency care. Veterinary staff immediately sedated him so they could safely remove the bucket and assess his injuries.
“He was soaked, mildly hypothermic, had cactus spines embedded in his fur and several wounds that needed treatment,” SDHS explained. The team cleaned his injuries and provided fluids and pain medication.
Though the coyote still had a recovery ahead of him, his prognosis was good. Once stabilized, he was transferred to the Ramona Wildlife Center, where he could rest and heal in a quiet enclosure.
In just a few days, his strength returned. Soon, the resilient wild animal was ready to go home.
SDHS staff transported him to a safe, wooded area and opened his crate. In an instant, the coyote sprang forward, disappearing into the trees — free at last.
Watching him run was the best reward of all. You can watch that moment here:
“He was released back into his wild home, where he could run free once more,” SDHS wrote. “A truly triumphant return to the wild.”
To support lifesaving rescues like this one, donations can be made to the San Diego Humane Society.
