Palm Desert Vet Saves Injured Coyote, Now Urgently Seeks Wildlife Sanctuary Placement

At El Paseo Animal Hospital in Palm Desert, the veterinary team is used to caring for everything from cats and dogs to the occasional exotic pet. But their latest patient is a first: a wild coyote.

Dr. David Jeffery, a veterinarian at the clinic, says the injured coyote was discovered in Palm Springs after being struck by a car. Her leg was so badly broken that it had to be amputated.

Now affectionately named Athena, the resilient three-legged coyote is recovering well from surgery. But while her physical healing is going smoothly, finding her a forever home has proven far more difficult.

Dr. Jeffery has reached out to wildlife rescues across California and beyond, but so far, no facility has been able to take Athena in.

With time running out, he’s appealing to the community for help. He hopes that by sharing Athena’s story, someone — a wildlife sanctuary or rehab center — might step forward to offer her the care and safety she needs.

Without placement soon, euthanasia may be the only remaining option.