It looks like the Coby Coyote is…not.
Both Cobleskill Police Chief Mike O’Brien and Dog Control Officer Alan Dibble said Monday they’re certain the animal that’s been spotted on North and Prospect Streets is a German shepherd.
Rumors of a coyote following and growling at people began prompting calls to police a couple of weeks ago.
“We don’t think it’s a coyote,” said Chief O’Brien. “Just a rough-looking, stray dog. We’re been chasing him for a couple of weeks, but no one can get close enough to catch him.”
Deer, red fox, and raccoons are frequent visitors to the Village of Cobleskill, but despite nearby large tracts of relatively open farmland, Chief O’Brien said he’s never had a confirmed report of a coyote there.
“A fox, I could believe,” he said.
Mr. Dibble said he’s been close enough to the canine to confirm it’s a dog.
‘I’m not sure if it’s a stray or just a dog someone lets run loose, but it’s definitely a German shepherd—maybe with some Husky mixed in.”
Mr. Dibble said he’s been able to get within six feet of the dog, which while timid and afraid of people, isn’t aggressive.
“He appears to be in good shape and he’s healthy,” Mr. Dibble said, “but until we catch him, we won’t know for sure. He does like to follow people, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. And we are trying to catch him.”