Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (February 20, 2026) – Southern California has seen a surge in coyote sightings over the last several months and one tiny orphan pup is a lucky survivor of a recent attack. Late last month, Helen Woodward Animal Center ushered in 2-year-old Terrier-blend canine, Philip, who was discovered covered in wounds from a serious attack. His recovery journey is a reminder to pet-owners to stay vigilant and take precautions to protect furry loved ones.
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One January 28, Helen Woodward Animal Center received a concerned call from a rescue partner located in Central California. A tiny terrier had been found, abandoned on farmland. The pup, who the Center named Philip, was covered in wounds that indicated a coyote attack, which had become infected and included a serious ulcer festering in his eye. Unequipped to take on the medical and lengthy recovery time, the group hoped the Center could help.
Coyote attacks have seen a recent surge in Southern California over the last two months, in particular. As the area grows and cities expand, there is a tragic loss of natural coyote habitats, limiting resources and pushing them into residential areas to seek food and water. In addition, January and February are the heart of the mating season for coyotes, who are out and about with more frequency. Whatever the case, it is important to remember that dogs (especially small ones) and cats are vulnerable to coyote attacks which can happen quickly and while owners are only feet away.
Fortunately for Philip, Helen Woodward Animal Center was able to welcome him in and send him straight to medical. The veterinary team sedated him, cleaned and sutured his wounds, tended to his injured eye, and soon after he was placed in a comfortable foster home where he could relax and heal. This morning, Philip went available for adoption.
For more information on Philip, or to donate to rescues like Philip, go to https://animalcenter.org.
“Philip is one of the lucky ones,” explained Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Services Director Kendall Schulz. “Little dogs like him rarely escape with their lives. He has so much spunk and joy in him. He’s ready to live his best life and we’re so happy we are able to help him find it.”
You may also reach out to the Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1, visit https://animalcenter.org or stop by at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
Helen Woodward Animal Center asks that pet owners remember the following safety tips to protect their own furry family members.
Tips and reminders to keep your pets safe
- Don’t keep pet food or water outside, especially at night
- Supervise your pets while outdoors, especially smaller dogs
- Pick up fallen fruit from trees in your yard.
- Keep your cat indoors, especially between dusk and dawn
- Thoroughly clean your grill and if possible store it in a garage
- Never leave dogs tied up outside
- Do keep your dog on a leash on walks and hikes in order to keep them in close proximity
- Bring a whistle or bear spray along on hikes and walks
- Six-foot tall fences are most effective in keeping coyotes out. For extra protection “coyote runners,” devices that can be installed on the top perimeter of tall fences and cause a coyote to slip
off when trying to hop over are effective.
If you do encounter coyotes either in your yard on walks or hikes
- NEVER run away from a coyote
- Make loud noises, yell, spray a garden hose in their direction or squirt vinegar, bang pots and pans together, throw sticks, cans, rubber balls or other small objects toward (not at) the coyote. (You want to discourage the coyote from coming back so you may have to use a variety of these methods if coyote sightings persist)
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday? campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: https://animalcenter.org.
