LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Chihuahua has been rescued from a dumpster in a Las Vegas neighborhood after being thrown inside by an unidentified man Monday morning.
The incident was recorded by a home surveillance camera and shared on social media by the Vegas Pet Rescue Project, who took the dog into their care Tuesday morning. Rescuers tell FOX5 the dog is now being called Atreyu and he is around 3 years old.
Surveillance video from the neighborhood shows an unidentified man dangling Atreyu by his legs before throwing him into the dumpster around 9:14 a.m. Monday. The man can be seen walking away, before returning to close the lid on the dog. It spent at least 24 hours in the dumpster before it was found.
“You could tell that this dog was absolutely shaken up. It’s spent over 24 hours in a dumpster,” shared Lindsey Pinapfel a volunteer with Vegas Pet Rescue Project.
Rescuers brought Atreyu to Horizon Ridge Animal Hospital around noon on Tuesday.
Veterinarians examined Atreyu and confirmed he is uninjured, but a little skittish following the incident.
The identities of Atreyu’s owners and the man in the video are currently unclear.
“This man is a monster… I don’t care what this dog could have done. There is nothing that calls for an individual to take a dog by its neck and toss it in a dumpster…this was a miracle… that this this dog was found prior to this dumpster being picked up,” Pinapfel contended.
In a Facebook post, VPRP stated, “It happened just as Reba’s Law is finally gaining momentum. THIS is why we need stronger protections for animals. THIS is why we fight.”
The post continues, “We will be working with Animal Protective Services to identify and hold this individual accountable. This cruelty cannot go unpunished.”
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told said they responded to the area, but deferring to Clark County Animal Protection Services as the lead agency.
Via FOX5VEGAS