The disfigured animal stirring up a Los Angeles neighborhood
Residents of the Studio City neighborhood are trying to locate a female coyote known as "Wendy," who has been roaming the area for over a year with a massive growth covering part of her face. Despite her difficult appearance, her physical condition seems good and she is still active – sometimes even approaching doorsteps. A wildlife rescue organization has been trying for four weeks to safely capture her and transfer her for a veterinary examination: "We will not give up until we find her."
A female coyote with a facial deformity has become an unexpected star in recent weeks in the Studio City neighborhood of northern Los Angeles. Locals gave her the name Wendy, while at the East Valley Animal Shelter she is known as Sunshine. In photos circulated online, a large, prominent lump is visible on the left side of her head, extending from the eye area toward the snout. At this stage, it is not yet clear what exactly caused the deformity, and staff at the Wildlife Care of Southern California organization define it as an abscess or a tumor of an unidentified type.
According to the organization's staff, Wendy has been roaming the area in her current condition for over a year. Over time, she became known to residents, some of whom reported seeing her standing on streets and even approaching doorsteps. She has acquired quite a few friends in the area, the organization's staff reported.
While Wendy's appearance is concerning, rescue workers say there are also encouraging signs. She is still active, and her body condition appears relatively good. However, veterinarians will only be able to truly understand her condition once she is captured. Wendy is expected to undergo a full examination and X-rays, which will help determine what the lump is, how much it has damaged her face, and what treatment options are available to her.
Staff at Wildlife Care of Southern California have been working for four weeks now, together with residents, in an attempt to locate her and capture her in a way that will not endanger her. In the meantime, she continues to move around the neighborhood, so the organization has asked anyone who sees her to report her location – but emphasized that one should not approach her or try to catch her independently.
Wendy's photos quickly went viral. Some users reacted with jokes about her appearance, and one of them jokingly claimed she got beaten up by a ginger cat, while another compared her to a moose. Others expressed mainly concern that she has been walking around with the injury for so long. The rescue organization is currently collecting donations to fund special equipment already purchased for her capture, and to cover the veterinary treatment that will be required afterward.
In the meantime, Wendy is still free, and the organization's staff promise to continue searching for her.
"We will not give up until we find her," they stated. "Thank you, Studio City, for looking out for this girl."
