When a Maryland man went to local police on Wednesday, he was just hoping to get his lost pet back.Instead, animal control officers killed his pet, and the man is facing possible arrest.His pet, you see, was this rather terrifying-looking coyote. And keeping a coyote as a pet, even one with a collar like this one had, is illegal in Maryland.Capt. Todd Ireland of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office said the coyote, which he described as about the size of a small German shepherd, got loose from his owner some time before 8 a.m. Wednesday.A resident saw the coyote near Neptune’s Seafood Pub in North Beach and called police. An animal control officer captured the animal and brought it to the sheriff’s office — where a North Beach resident arrived, saying he was the owner.The owner, whom police have not named, bought the coyote as a pup in Virginia, Ireland said.Ireland said the coyote showed no signs of rabies. But knowing that coyotes might contract the disease, animal control officers decided to euthanize it. On Thursday afternoon, Ireland said lab tests proved that the coyote was not rabid when it died.Ireland said officers are considering bringing charges against the owner.
Source: A man asked police for help finding his illegal pet. Now it’s dead, and he could be arrested. – The Washington Post
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