Coyote is a "shepherd-husky mix we think," said his owner Craig Mitchell. "He literally came into our friend's back yard, this is about six years ago. He had been abandoned by somebody but had no tags. We tried to find an owner but couldn't. So we just adopted him."

Coyote isn't wild or potentially dangerous like his namesake but he does have one trait that makes his name make sense. "Whenever a siren goes by he howls and sings along with the sirens. He's quite vocal," said Mitchell.

I was on the couch in our family room and it was a Saturday afternoon and I was tired and ended up taking a nap. I woke up because Coyote had come over to me and he was concerned maybe, I don't know but he took his tiny little front teeth and he nibbled on my ear until I woke up. He has a very soft mouth so you can give him treats and he doesn't snap and he came that way."

His diet is a mixture of ground meat and vegetables but his treats are limited to dried kibble since he has a sensitive stomach.

Coyote does have some canine friends, one named Bella (an Aussie Shepherd mix) and Yuba (a Lab and Rottweiler mix).

When it snows Coyote, who loves rolling on grass and other surfaces, really, "goes berserk," said Mitchell. "He will go face down into the snow, snuffling, rolling in the snow, the colder the better."

He's not a high maintenance dog and as long as he get walked he's pretty happy. He and Mitchell and Marguerite Dinkins often walk the Longfellow Creek Trail or Alki, or Discovery Park. Water is not Coyote's favorite thing, he's not a strong swimmer, but he likes being in it, as long as it isn't over his head.

Coyote has not gone to obedience school but he's pretty well behaved. "He has manners but not tricks," said Dinkins.

How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:

Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Animal Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.

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