June 23 (UPI) — Firefighters in Florida responded to a report of a “dog” stranded in a canal and wound up rescuing what turned out to be a coyote pup.

The Cape Coral Fire Department said on social media that the Engine 9 and Rescue 9 crews were dispatched Monday on a report of a dog in a Britannia Lake canal.

A local resident in a kayak monitored the animal’s location and pointed firefighters to the dock it had disappeared beneath.

“Firefighters entered the water and were able to extract what turned out to be a coyote pup from the space,” the post said. “It was exhausted from its ventures and unable to be released.”

The coyote was taken to East West Veterinary Care Center and will be transferred to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife until it is healthy enough to be released.

The woman in the kayak and a neighbor who had previously attempted to rescue the coyote were presented with Community Recognition Coins by firefighters.