I hunt around Maricopa quite a bit. There are a lot of feral dogs running around the older 10acre and a trailer communities there. Nobody really owns them (cause then they have to take responsiblity for them= $$). A lot of the Indian Reservations get the same thing.
Theres enough garbage and water sources and "kind souls" that leave food out (and just people who let their dogs run wild, because hey, they got 10 acres and a trailer what other reason do I need ?) that easily support a feral or uncontrolled population.
The feral dogs dont let you get too close, but maybe a puppy wouldnt be as fearful, did you have trouble picking up the pup ?
Several occasions around Maricopa while I am Coyote calling, I have had packs of 5-8 dogs that were all different sizes (and yet apparently all related by shape and color ) come in to my stand at once, and single or pairs of dogs, and there wasnt a house or trailer for over a mile and nothing but empty desert. If the coyotes can catch a dog alone, the dog becomes lunch. Even the small dogs are safe as long as they pack up, and they do just that.
You just havent lived until you have had a gang of Lhasa Apso/beagle/heinz 57 mutts run up to you in "attack mode", thinking you were a poor hurt little bunny, and watch em all flip out at once they realize youre a scary human instead....
another alternative anyway.
