Be shrewd: This Utah Wild Animal Isn't a Lost Dog

Most people have big hearts and want to help an animal that looks lost or distressed. Dogs and puppies especially tug at our hear strings. This can become complicated when the lost dog turns out to be a wild animal.

That Cute Puppy on the Hiking Trail Isn’t What You Think

There have been stories over the years of people finding a puppy and bringing it home or to the humane society, only to discover it is a coyote pup. One young woman pulled an injured dog she found by the road into her car only to discover it wasn’t what she thought.

Another family brought home a puppy they found abandoned only to discover it was also a coyote. Trying to capture a wild animal can be dangerous, especially if it has rabies or other diseases. But most of us know what a coyote looks like, right?

Melanistic Coyote are Rare and Look Different

There is a coyote of a different color. These are called melanistic coyotes and they have black fur. They are rare and so not as well known. It might be easy to mistake one of these wild animals for a lost dog.

Chances are you will not run into any different colored coyotes. Even though they have adapted to live in urban areas, these animals are masters of staying away from humans. However, if you do come across a good doggy who doesn’t want to be petted, you may want to leave it alone.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh