Watch Moment Man Abandons Puppy In Middle of ‘Coyote Country' at 3:30am

The moment a 10-week-old puppy was abandoned in an area of California where coyotes roam and hunt freely has been captured on camera.

At 4:30 a.m. on April 10, staff at Mission Viejo Animal Services were notified by a local animal urgent care facility that staff had discovered a puppy outside their front entrance.

The veterinary team immediately brought the puppy inside, conducted a medical evaluation, and contacted Animal Services. Animal control officers then began investigating what had happened.

Eventually, CCTV footage from a camera located near to the facility revealed the harsh reality of what occurred. At approximately 3:25 a.m., a man was seen driving down the hill toward the rescue facility in a red four-door vehicle.

He exits his vehicle and throws the puppy toward the closed shelter gate, leaving the animal alone and frightened in the middle of what Mission Viejo describes as "coyote country."

He then returned to his vehicle and drove away. After being abandoned, the puppy, visibly distressed on the video, makes her way toward the entrance of the care facility where an interior camera shows her jumping up against the reception’s glass wall before a staff member notices and investigates.

Staff described the situation as heartbreaking, noting the puppy appeared scared and disoriented, but fortunate to have found its way to safety. The footage soon found its way onto social media, with Mission Viejo Animal Services posting the video online in the hope of finding the man in the video.

Thanks to extensive media coverage and the support of the community, Mission Viejo’s investigators quickly identified the man involved.

The suspect, who it was determined had been the puppy's owner, was contacted and interviewed by investigators.

The City and Mission Viejo expressed gratitude to the public and media partners for their assistance in bringing this case to light.

In the meantime, the female puppy, who is not even 3-months-old yet, is doing well and receiving much attention and love from shelter staff. She's been named Magnolia and the good news is that she's already got a new home lined up after Mission Viejo received a flood of adoption applications.

While the case has progressed quickly and Magnolia has her happy ending, Mission Viejo believes the incident serves as an important reminder to the community that pet ownership, especially caring for a puppy, is a serious, long-term commitment.

Puppies require time, training, resources, and patience. When circumstances change or challenges arise, it is critical that pet owners take responsible and humane steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their animals.

"There are always options," said Mission Viejo director Brynn Lavison. "Our agency is here to help. If someone is unable to care for a pet in our jurisdiction, we strongly encourage them to reach out prior to taking drastic measures such as abandoning a pet. We can provide guidance, resources, and safe surrender options to ensure animals are treated with care and compassion."

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:47 AM.