Arizona Woman Spots ‘Coyote’ On Her Patio Only To Learn It’s Not What She Thought

Meredith Warfel has grown accustomed to seeing all sorts of desert wildlife near her home in Arizona, but one day brought a surprise unlike any other.

A strange, wild-looking creature appeared in her yard, its fur covered in prickly cactus spines.

At first glance, the animal resembled a coyote, leaving Meredith and her family unsure of what to think. Was this unexpected visitor a threat, or simply a weary creature looking for rest?

Night after night, the shaggy animal returned to their yard, never showing signs of aggression. Unlike a true coyote, she neither growled nor paced restlessly—instead, she seemed to be quietly seeking comfort and safety.

Rather than acting threatening, the animal settled gently onto the family’s patio furniture, curling up as if she were utterly drained.

Her body language spoke volumes—there was no menace in her eyes, only fear and exhaustion. She looked less like a wild predator and more like a lost soul desperately hoping she had stumbled upon a safe and quiet place to rest.

Hoping for answers, Meredith snapped a photo and posted it online. Everyone kept saying the same thing: “That’s a coyote!”

But something about that didn’t feel right to her. Coyotes don’t usually lounge on patio cushions like that.

Meredith couldn’t shake the feeling that this animal wasn’t wild at all. She looked lost, not feral. And she was right.

Turns out, the “coyote” was actually a dog. She had no collar, no tags, and no microchip.

Meredith figured she had likely been dumped somewhere near a hiking trail and had wandered around until she found their backyard, hoping someone would finally notice her.

The Warfel family brought her to a local shelter in case someone might be looking for her. But days went by, and no one came.

They kept visiting the sweet pup, now called Luna. And with each visit, Luna seemed to bloom a little more.

Realizing that a special bond had already been born, the Warfels decided to welcome Luna into her home for good.

Today, she’s healthy, happy, and completely at home. She’s best friends with the family’s cats and kids.

She fits right in just perfectly, 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…”

Besides her favorite games of fetch and frisbee, Luna has claimed her spot as the poolside queen.

She loves nothing more than lounging on a floating raft, while the kids splash and play nearby.

Luna’s heart is full, and just being near the ones she loves is all she needs, as Meredith put it:

“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.”

For Luna, there’s no better place than right here, sharing happy moments with her family.