On April 15, the Nebraska Humane Society (NHS) shared a shocking story that has left animal lovers outraged. Animal Control officers responded to a call about strange noises coming from a dumpster. The caller initially thought it was a raccoon—only to discover a dog in distress.The scene was horrifying. The helpless pup’s head was completely wrapped in duct tape, covering his muzzle and eyes. His legs and tail were also bound, leaving him immobilized. To make matters worse, his fur was matted with food and debris.
“I have never seen anything like it,” said Kevin Wiederin, one of the responding officers. “The entire muzzle was taped, and then there was tape covering up the eyes… its front and back paws were taped together too.”
A Race Against Time
It was a miracle the dog was found when he was—just 30 minutes later, a garbage truck arrived to empty the dumpster.
The dog was immediately taken to NHS, where veterinarians sedated him to carefully remove the tape. His fur had to be shaved to get rid of the caked-on debris. Despite his ordeal, the pup had only mild skin irritation and, incredibly, was still in good spirits—wagging his tail and showing affection.
A Tearful Reunion
A microchip scan revealed that the dog’s name was Leo, and he had gone missing just days earlier. His owner, Erin Dillon-Pasillas, had been frantically searching for him.
“Every day got more stressful… it was just crickets,” she recalled. “When I got the call, I was shaking, thinking, ‘Please be my dog, please be my dog.’”
While overjoyed to have Leo back, Erin was heartbroken over the cruel treatment he endured. “He’s the sweetest dog! I don’t know why anyone would do this,” she said.
Who Did This?
The person responsible for this horrifying act remains unknown. There are no surveillance cameras near the dumpster where Leo was found. NHS is urging anyone with information to come forward and is offering a $1,000 reward for leads that result in an arrest.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Animal Services at 402-444-7800.
This heart-wrenching case is a stark reminder of the cruelty some animals face—but also of the kindness of those willing to help. Thankfully, Leo is safe and back home where he belongs.
