OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The Nebraska Humane Society is offering a reward for information about a dog wrapped in duct tape that was placed in a dumpster likely sometime Sunday night.
Animal control officers were called at 10 a.m. Monday to Sweet and Associates, located northeast of 132nd Street and West Center Road, after employees there found a small dog in their dumpster with its head wrapped in duct tape and front and back legs taped together.
Partner at Sweet and Associates, Kevin Wiederin, checked the dumpster after employees thought a racoon was trapped inside. He was shocked to discover it was a dog.
“It’s unimaginable to think that somebody could do that to another living thing, let alone a helpless little puppy,” Wiederin said.
Animal control rushed the dog to the Nebraska Humane Society, where staff sedated the dog to remove the tape.
“He has some mild skin irritation; but once un-taped, wagged his tail perked up,” NHS said in an email to local news media.
The dog’s owner was located through the microchip ID; she had reported Leo missing on Thursday, believing the family pet got out while getting her child to school that morning.
Leo’s owner, Erin Dillon-Pasillas, said she and her family spent the weekend desperately searching for him. She went to the humane society Monday to see if he was there.
“I was actually at the humane society looking at the lost dogs and I got a text from PetLink, because he’s chipped, that he was there while I was there,” said Dillon-Pasillas.
Dillon-Pasillas said she and her family are relieved to have their 1.5-year-old cavapoo back home, and in good health, but said she struggles to comprehend the abuse he endured.
“This dog is like the most low-key, happy dog. I can’t even fathom it,” Dillon-Pasillas said.
NHS said there are no cameras in the area that might have seen Leo being put in the dumpster, which apparently was emptied by the trash service about 30 minutes after animal control responded to the call Monday morning.
“HUGE shoutout to Kevin Wiederin and Judy O’Halloran of Sweet and Associates for saving Leo’s life!” NHS said in its email.
Authorities are investigating this incident and offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Those responsible face a misdemeanor charge, which can incur a $500 fine and up to six months in jail.
Dillon-Pasillas hopes they will get justice for what happened to Leo. “They deserve to be in jail. These are family pets that people are connected to and there’s no reason to hurt an animal like this,” said Dillon-Pasillas.
This one starts out a bit rough, but it has a happy ending. *Content and images may be disturbing to some…
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Anchor Erin Sullivan and Reporter Bella Caracta contributed to this report.
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