Staff Find Lost Dog With Head Duct-Taped in Dumpster Behind Building—But Worried Owner Is Reunited

Leo the dog before and after staff removed duct tape from his head, legs, and tail. (Illustration by The Epoch Times, Courtesy of Nebraska Humane Society)

It sounded like raccoons rummaging in the dumpster bin behind the building in the dark of night.

The employee at the Omaha accounting firm Sweet & Associates had felt too uneasy to go investigating the commotion on that particular night, so it wasn’t until the next day, Monday, April 15, that partner Kevin Wiederin was informed about the racket, and he uncovered a shocker.

At around 10 a.m., the Nebraska Humane Society (NHS) was called about a helpless puppy in the dumpster after Mr. Wiederin discovered him. How he looked was even more alarming.

A dog was found in a dumpster behind accounting firm Sweet & Associates on Monday, April 15. (Courtesy of Nebraska Humane Society)

Duct tape had been wrapped all around the dog’s head, covering his ears and eyes, NHS stated in a heartrending post on Facebook later that afternoon. Tape had also bound his front legs, his hind legs, and even around his tail, while pieces of food were caked to his fur.

“It’s unimaginable to think that somebody could do that to another living thing, let alone a helpless little puppy,” Mr. Wiederin told local broadcaster WOWT, noting that a garbage truck arrived and claimed the trash just 20 minutes after the rescue.

After the dog was rushed to the NHS headquarters, he was sedated, and staff got to work removing the duct tape and shaving off his fur so that the pieces of debris could be removed.

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“He has some mild skin irritation, but is otherwise healthy and seemed to be in good spirits despite his condition,” NHS wrote in their post. “After the tape had been removed, he perked up and was wagging his tail as our team carefully assessed him.”

Staff at NHS sedated Leo to remove the duct tape and had to shave his fur to remove stuck debris. (Courtesy of Nebraska Humane Society)

While the animal was there, unbeknownst to anyone, the animal’s owner arrived in the same building searching for her lost dog.

Erin Dillon-Pasillas had reported that her puppy, Leo, was missing the previous Thursday, believing that he had somehow gotten loose while she was sending her child off to school, WOWT reported.

After spending the weekend scouring the area in a desperate search for her lost Leo, she went to NHS to see if he had turned up. As he was chipped, she got a text and found out they were both 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,” Ms. Dillon-Pasillas told the station. “This dog is like the most low-key, happy dog. I can’t even fathom it.”

Leo is now doing well. (Courtesy of Nebraska Humane Society)

As there are no cameras behind the building where Leo was found in the dumpster, the culprit’s identity remains unknown.

Local authorities are offering $10,000 for tips leading to an arrest, and those responsible could face misdemeanor charges to the tune of $500 in fines and six months in jail.

“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,” Ms. Dillon-Pasillas told WOWT.

Leo the dog is reportedly doing well.

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