Arizona Woman Spots A Strange Visitor On Her Patio, But It’s Not What She Thinks

When you live in the wide-open desert of Arizona, spotting animals wandering around isn’t anything new. Jackrabbits, lizards, coyotes, you name it, they’re all part of the backdrop.

But sometimes, something shows up that makes you stop in your tracks and second-guess what you’re really seeing.

That’s exactly what happened to Meredith Warfel and her family one day when an unexpected visitor showed up on their back patio.

Out of the desert brush walked a shaggy, scruffy figure, with patches of cactus clinging to her fur. She looked rough, wild, and completely out of place, and for a moment, the family could only think one thing: coyote.

At first, the idea made sense. She had that wild desert look, skinny and unkempt. But something about her felt… off.

Was she dangerous? Or was she just lost, desperate, and too worn down to keep going?

Over the next few evenings, the strange visitor returned. Instead of roaming restlessly like a predator, she quietly curled herself up on the patio furniture.

There was no growling, no howling, no signs of aggression. Just soft, weary eyes and a nervous little body that wanted nothing more than to rest.

Meredith couldn’t stop thinking about her. She eventually snapped a picture and posted it online, asking if anyone recognized the animal. The replies all came back the same: “That’s a coyote!”

But Meredith’s gut said otherwise. Coyotes don’t nap on outdoor cushions like they belong there. They don’t wait patiently for a family to notice them.

This wasn’t some wild animal staking territory. This was someone’s lost companion, and her heart told her the truth before anyone else did.

And she was right. The mysterious “coyote” turned out to be a dog. She had no collar, no tags, no microchip. Nothing to trace her back to the home she once belonged to.

Meredith guessed she had been dumped along one of the nearby hiking trails, left to survive on her own. For who knows how long, the poor girl had wandered aimlessly until she stumbled onto the Warfels’ backyard, her one shot at safety.

The family did the responsible thing and brought her to a local shelter, just in case someone was searching for her. Days passed, and no one showed up to claim her.

But Meredith and her family couldn’t stop visiting the pup they’d already started calling Luna. With every visit, it felt less like they were checking in on a stray and more like they were spending time with a dog who already belonged to them.

Luna clearly felt it too. And before long, the decision was made. She wasn’t going anywhere. She was officially adopted into the Warfel family.

Life looks very different for Luna now. She’s healthy, full of food, love, and playtime. She’s gotten close to the family’s cats and bonded with the kids, as Meredith shared in a YouTube video:

“She’s healthy she’s well-nourished and she does think that she’s one of the kids which she is…”

Walks outside still make Luna nervous, but the family has found plenty of other ways to bring out her playful side. Fetch is her go-to, but lately she’s discovered the joy of chasing frisbees across the yard.

And when the Arizona sun gets too hot? Pool days are her favorite. She’s floating lazily on a pool float while the kids splash around her. Meredith shared:

“I think she just wants to be around the family so she can watch us and be a part of all the fun and we just love our little Luna and having her hang out with us all the time.”

No one knows for sure what breed Luna is, and honestly, it doesn’t matter. She’s just the right mix of fluff, sweetness, and personality to be perfect exactly as she is.

What really matters is that she finally found her place and a family who will never let her go again.