Stray Dog Escapes Death

Several weeks ago, early in the morning I saw this stray dog across the street from my home. He was dirty and frightened, but not at all aggressive. I spend several hours trying to befriend the dog and capture him so I could get him some care. As best I could surmise he looked like an abused "bait dog" - a submissive dog used to train fighting dogs. While I was able to give him food and water, he was simply too frightened to be approached. My heart broke when I had to leave for the afternoon.
When I returned at 5:30 that evening, the dog was on my front doormat in the shade. He was dehydrated and panting heavily from the 110 degree heat. I was able to give him more water, but when I went to get a leash, he was already leaving. The more I tried to approach him, the further away he walked. As we live at the edge of a development, I did not want to push him into the desert. The sun would be going down soon, so I went into the house. He stopped in a plot of grass on the other side of my cul-de-sac, about 75 yards from my house.
I went upstairs to my office and watched him from my window. I called my wife, and she recommended calling Animal Control to try and catch him, as that would be better than being out at night alone in coyote country. I agreed.
I called the Humane Society first, and as I was talking I glanced out my window. I saw the dog passively lying down and a coyote 6 feet away, circling in that unmistakable predatory way.
I ran downstairs in sheer panic, and flung open my front door. Time slowed, and the next five seconds seemed like 20 minutes. There, right beside my door was this sweet little dog. He stared at me with a glance that pierced my soul. I can only describe it as the look a creature must have in the seconds before it knows it's about to die a painful death.
In front of me, on my porch, 5 feet away was a coyote -- it must have froze when I opened the door. Three feet behind him was another coyote, and there may have been another. I lunged forward with a primal scream, violently waving my arms saying "GET OUT OF HERE!!"
The coyotes took off, but the dog stood frozen by my side, staring up and me. I scooped him into my arms and took him in the house, where he melted up against my chest. This image was taken that night, several hours after we saved him.
Although we already have dogs, I told my wife that -- after he trusted me literally with his life -- there was no way I could give him up to anyone. Had he run ANYWHERE else, he would surely be dead. Although still slowly adjusting, he is playing with our other dogs, often smiling from ear to ear.
My wife said his name is Boomerang -- because he came back. I think he likes it.