Florida Neighbors Stunned As ‘Dog’ With Jar On Its Head Turns Out To Be Something Ultra Rare

It all started when neighbors in Pasco County, Florida, saw a strange creature strolling down their street with its head stuck inside a glass jar.

At first glance, it looked like a scruffy dog. But the longer they watched, the stranger it seemed.

The sighting spread fast. Parents worried for their kids and people jumped online to warn their neighbors.

Soon, everyone in the community was talking about the odd visitor with the jar for a helmet.

It didn’t take long for the news to reach Lea Elise Haverstock, the founder of Maxx and Me Pet Rescue.

The moment she saw the post about a “skinny black dog” with a jar on its head, Lea knew she had to intervene.

She wasn’t even sure what kind of animal it really was, but that didn’t matter. What she knew for certain was that the poor thing needed help, as she shared in an interview:

“I was distressed knowing this animal, whatever it was, had a jar on its head and could not eat.”

But when animal services finally tracked down the wandering creature, everyone was stunned by what they learned. This wasn’t a dog at all. It was a black coyote.

Now, coyotes aren’t rare in Florida. They tend to stick to wooded areas and undeveloped land. But a black coyote? That’s almost unheard of.

This one had melanism, a rare genetic condition that darkens the coat, and it made the rescue even more extraordinary.

The coyote was fast, nervous, and clearly weakened from hunger. It took nearly eight exhausting hours of scouring the woods before anyone finally caught sight of it again.

That’s when Lea did something brave most of us would never even think to do.

The second she spotted the coyote out in the open, she ran straight toward it, scooped it up in her arms, and yelled for backup.

One of the rescuers came rushing over, and together they carefully pulled the glass jar off its head. The moment it came loose, the coyote shook itself free, blinked at its rescuers, and bolted into the wild.

Just like that, it was gone, finally free to breathe, eat, and live again.

Lea stood there catching her breath, knowing she had just witnessed something she would never forget. Reflecting on the amazing rescue, she said:

“No matter the animal you see that needs your help, don’t ever give up! Fight for that animal no matter if that is uncomfortable [or if] it puts you in a position where you have to take a stand. Be a warrior for helpless animals, [be] kind, compassionate and brave.”

It’s easy to think that one person can’t make a difference. But moments like this prove otherwise.

Thanks to Lea and her bravery and compassion, a rare black coyote walked away with a second chance.