Wiley

Wiley is a coyote and a client of ZRS in We Can Fix Pawbert. Introduced in S05E01 "Golden Age," Wiley is a recently released mammal who becomes one of Pawbert's cases, demonstrating how far Pawbert has come in his own journey from incarcerated criminal to licensed social worker.

"First week's rough. I know." — Pawbert to Wiley (S05E01)

Background

Wiley served eighteen months at ZCF on a breaking and entering conviction. He completed the reentry program inside and was released to a halfway house in Canyonlands. Four days after his release, he arrives at ZRS as a referral from the 2-1-1 system.

Personality

Wiley exhibits the wariness and defensiveness common to newly released mammals. He sits on the edge of his chair, ready to bolt, and his eyes constantly dart to escape routes. He wears donated clothes that do not quite fit, takes up as little space as possible, and carries the bitter edge of someone who has learned not to believe promises of help.

Key personality traits:

• Wary — Constantly calculating exits; does not trust easily
• Bitter — Expects rejection; "Nobody wants to hire a felon"
• Defensive — Challenges Pawbert's ability to understand his situation
• Capable — When given information, he reads it and asks practical questions

Series History

Season 5

Wiley appears in the ZRS waiting room during "Golden Age," becoming Pawbert's 2pm appointment. His arrival demonstrates the professional life Pawbert has built: a licensed social worker with his own office, nameplate, and caseload.

Pawbert recognizes something familiar in Wiley's body language and approaches slowly, keeping his movements non-threatening. During their session, Wiley challenges whether Pawbert could possibly understand what he is going through. Pawbert quietly reveals that he has sat where Wiley is sitting.

This admission shifts something in Wiley. He picks up the employment list Pawbert offered and asks about a warehouse job. When Pawbert explains that he will vouch for Wiley if he shows up and does the work, but will not lie for him, Wiley's mouth lifts in what is almost a smile.

Key Relationships

Pawbert Pawthorne

Wiley's relationship with Pawbert is significant precisely because of what it represents. Pawbert sees himself in Wiley: the donated clothes, the hypervigilance, the expectation of rejection. By revealing his own history without making the session about himself, Pawbert creates the first fragile thread of trust with his client.

The encounter demonstrates Pawbert's growth. He sits beside his desk rather than behind it, eliminating barriers. He offers honest, practical terms: show up, do the work, and he will vouch. His approach embodies the philosophy he learned from Sorrel: options, not obligations.

Key Lines

Trivia

• Wiley the coyote is named after Wile E. Coyote from Looney Tunes.
• Wiley represents the cyclical nature of reentry work: Pawbert, once a client himself, now helps others navigate the same system that once held him.