REVERE, Massachusetts -- What was originally was reported to be a dog in the road gave Massachusetts State Police a surprise last weekend after it was determined that the animal was actually a coyote pup.
Trooper Carlo Mastromattei responded to a call for a wounded dog in the road on Revere Beach Parkway night of May 5, according to a news release.
Mastromattei pulled up to the animal's location on the edge of the busy roadway near Suffolk Downs and saw the small frightened coyote pup.
The pup's mother was nowhere in sight and Mastromattei contacted environmental, wildlife, and local animal control officials, but no one was available to assist.
He then called Ocean View Kennels in Revere, and the kennel's owner, Lisa Cutting, responded and helped Mastromattei secure the pup in a crate.
Mastromattei then took the pup to his girlfriend AnnBeth and the coyote pup stayed in the crate in her house overnight.
The next day, Ocean View Kennel transported the pup to Tufts Wildlife in North Grafton, where he was examined and determined to be healthy.
The pup will now be transferred to the care of a wildlife specialist in the Berkshires, who will rehabilitate him and acclimate him to life in the wild, where he will eventually be released to live out his life.
"The Department offers its sincere thanks to Trooper Mastromattei, his girlfriend, Ocean View Kennels, and Tufts for their compassionate care for this beautiful little creature," the Massachusetts State Police wrote in a statement.