Lights flashing. Phone ringing and someone is at the back door. “Wake up, Kathy!” But I just got to sleep. Not a typical summer night for you, but not so unusual out at Oaken Acres. Officer Ryan Lloyd, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Police, had rescued a coyote pup out in rural Genoa that had been hit by a car. If there were no Oaken Acres, the only option would have been to shoot her. Officer Lloyd radioed for directions to Oaken Acres and that’s when Lady’s second chance began. The eight-week-old coyote pup was barely conscious and unable to move her hind legs. Weighing less than 5 pounds, a collision with a ton of automobile at 50 mph might very well have fractured her spine, leaving her permanently paralyzed. The first order of business was to get her broken little body into a safe, warm place. She presented no struggle, no fear, but not a lot of hope either. She was in shock but knew she needed help. Next morning, I did a toe-pinch test to see if Lady had any feeling in her hind legs. Both had some reflex action, but she was still very subdued and unable to stand or control any movement in her hind legs. Over the phone, Dr. Balster tried to walk me through the construction of a “hobble” for her, but recognizing my ineptitude at anything even remotely mechanical, we both decided he needed to intervene personally. The whole staff at Bethany Animal Hospital was immediately captivated by Lady. A small, padded cardboard box was fixed between her knees with the hind legs taped together so she could get up and move a little, but not enough to aggravate the apparent spinal trauma. Ten days, two vaccines (distemper and parvovirus), and lots of good food later, the hobble came off. She was pretty shaky at first, and it took another two weeks before she could really stand on her own. Through all of this she had shown no signs of aggression. I truly believe she sensed she needed my help, but not for much longer, and especially not after she was joined by Guy, another car-collision victim, in August. They spent the rest of the summer together, healing. Officer Lloyd had kept in contact and he came out to visit her one last time as summer was moving into fall. Under a full September moon, Mark and I took the two coyotes to the place Lady had been rescued. Many times a rehabber can’t be certain how a release will go. Was Lady strong enough? Fast enough? Wild enough? I was pretty sure she was wild enough now because I could no longer get anywhere near her without drawing growls and bared teeth. We set the carrier down, I said my goodbyes and private prayers for Lady and Guy, and we opened the door. Out they flew and never stopped running. They were home.