Imagine if your dog got loose and was taken in by the local humane society, only to be handed over to law enforcement authorities because your dog was mistaken for a coyote. (OK, I know most dogs would not be mistaken for coyotes, but bear with me.) Then imagine if animal “experts” told authorities that coyotes are nuisance animals, and that they had two choices: Euthanize the animal, or return it to the wild.

This was the scenario in Frankfort, Kentucky, when Lori Goodlett’s Shiba Inu, Copper, ended up in the hands of police after being rejected by the Franklin County Humane Society because someone there thought she was a coyote. The police, not wanting to have to kill Copper, took her to an open field and released her, according to a story on WKYT.

Goodlett doesn’t hold the police accountable. At least they didn’t kill her dog. In fact, when officers later saw Copper’s photo on flyers Goodlett had posted and realized what had happened, they began helping her try to find her dog.

Copper is still missing. Goodlett would very much like to have her back, and spends a lot of time fielding phone calls from people who think they have spotted her. But so far, no leads have panned out.

This is so sad. I think of how Jake would fend if released into the wilds of Kentucky. Unless he ran into Col. Sanders wielding a bucket of fried chicken thighs, he’d probably be a goner. I hope Copper found her way to a kind home and will soon be returned to Goodlett for a very happy reunion. In the meantime, someone needs to get the Humane Society a very good book on dog breeds. And perhaps am equally good lawyer, too.

Coyote photo: Billie Cromwell-retired Pennsylvania Game Commission