The Nebraska Humane Society is asking for help finding out who covered a missing dog’s face in duct tape and then left the pet in a dumpster.

According to an April 15 Facebook post from the shelter, employees at an Omaha accounting firm found the canine in a dumpster behind the office’s building.

An employee at the firm heard sounds coming from the dumpster on April 14, but they weren’t comfortable investigating the commotion, per the shelter’s post. The next day, the firm’s staff opened the dumpster expecting to find a raccoon but found a small dog whose “entire head was wrapped in duct tape” instead.

The Nebraska Humane Society wrote that the employees found the canine with “his front legs and back legs taped together as well, and there was tape wrapped around his tail. He also had food and other debris caked in his fur.”

According to KETV, the dog’s rescuers saved him just in time.

“Luckily, we just kind of came out when we did and found it because as soon as the Humane Society got there, probably about 15 minutes later, the trash man came and emptied it,” Kevin Wiederin, a staff member at the accounting firm, told the outlet.

Wiederin added he was “absolutely shaken” by what had happened to the innocent dog. “It was it was one of the most upsetting things I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine doing that to another living being, let alone a helpless little dog, and then just leaving him there like unwanted trash.”

The accounting firm called Animal Control for assistance. Officers carefully collected the duct-taped dog and brought him to the Nebraska Humane Society. The shelter’s staff sedated the canine shortly after his arrival, and worked together to carefully remove all the tape covering the furry pup.

“They had to shave him to remove all of the debris,” the shelter wrote about what happened next, adding that the dog “perked up and was wagging his tail” after coming out of sedation.

The Nebraska Humane Society added, “He has some mild skin irritation but is otherwise healthy and seemed to be in good spirits despite his condition.”

After freeing the dog from all the duct tape adhered to his fur, the shelter’s staff scanned the pup for a microchip and found one. The microchip led the Nebraska Humane Society to the dog’s owner, Erin Dillon-Pasillas, who had reported the pet missing on April 11.

Dillon-Pasillas told the shelter that her dog, Leo, likely slipped out while she was taking her son to school, and she had been searching for the dog ever since.

The Nebraska Humane Society wrote on social media that Erin was “incredibly emotional” upon hearing what her dog had gone through during his short time away. Leo is now back with his family, enjoying the comforts of home.

“He’s the sweetest dog! I don’t know why anyone would do this,” Dillon-Pasillas told.

Source: https://people.com/