On the afternoon of December 14, 2023, employees at a Family Dollar store in Lehigh Acres, Florida, noticed a trash bag moving inside their dumpster as they prepared to take out the garbage. Inside was a 16-year-old Shih Tzu named Xyla — alive, with a rope tied around her neck.
A Discovery No One Expected
Store staff recognized immediately that something was seriously wrong and rushed Xyla to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital for emergency evaluation, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Carmine Marceno later said hospital exams determined Xyla “was on her way to a painful death” had she not been found.
Veterinarians scanned Xyla for a microchip and traced her to her registered owners — only to discover both had recently died. That discovery became the key that unlocked the rest of the case.
Tracing The Dumpster Back To A Suspect
Detectives and the county’s Animal Cruelty Task Force pulled surveillance footage from the area and found video showing a man removing a black trash bag from his car trunk and tossing it into the dumpster from several feet away before driving off, per CBS News.
Investigators identified the man as Anthony Bellman, 55, a family member of Xyla’s late owners who had reportedly been entrusted with her care. When detectives went to his home, they found the same car seen in the footage, and Bellman was still wearing the same clothing shown in the video.
“You can see in this video that he has zero regard for Xyla,” Sheriff Marceno said at a press conference announcing the arrest.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to a probable cause statement cited by Law & Crime, Bellman told detectives he had taken Xyla to a remote location, placed a rope around her neck using a slip knot, and attempted to kill her himself rather than bring her to the Humane Society for euthanasia, which he described as “too sad” after a previous experience with another pet. When that failed, he placed her in a trash bag and left her in the dumpster.
Bellman was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, and booked into the Lee County jail. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond, according to Law & Crime.
A New Tool For Accountability
Bellman’s case became one of the first tied to Lee County’s newly enacted Animal Abuser Registry — a public database created to track people convicted of animal cruelty, intended to help shelters, breeders, and pet stores screen out individuals with a documented history of abuse. If convicted, Bellman will be added to that registry.
“We are ONE team that comes together to be a voice for the innocent, such as Xyla,” Marceno said. “We will never stop holding individuals accountable for these heinous actions here in this county,” per WFLA.
Xyla’s Recovery
After being stabilized, Xyla was transferred to Lee County Domestic Animal Services, which began working with the State Attorney’s Office to find her a permanent home. Despite her age and partial blindness, staff reported she was back on her feet within about a week, alert and responsive to attention from the people caring for her.
Luis Llado, the Family Dollar employee who first found her, recalled the moment he opened the bag: “I took the bag out, I cut the top and the bag fell and she was just sitting there hot and sweaty, she didn’t smell good.” He later added, watching her recovery, “She looks very beautiful, she’s a beautiful old lady.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when was Xyla found? Inside a dumpster behind a Family Dollar store in Lehigh Acres, Florida, on December 14, 2023, by store employees taking out the trash.
Who was charged in connection with her abandonment? Anthony Bellman, 55, a family member of Xyla’s deceased owners, was charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty after investigators matched him to surveillance footage and his own clothing.
What did investigators say Bellman told them? According to a probable cause statement, Bellman said he attempted to kill Xyla himself with a rope before abandoning her in the dumpster, rather than taking her to the Humane Society for euthanasia.
What is the Lee County Animal Abuser Registry? A public database created by Lee County to track people convicted of animal cruelty, intended to help shelters and pet-related businesses screen out individuals with a documented abuse history. Bellman would be added to it if convicted.
What happened to Xyla after she was rescued? She was treated at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, then transferred to Lee County Domestic Animal Services, which began working with the State Attorney’s Office to place her in a permanent home.
Was Bellman held in custody? He was booked into the Lee County jail on the animal cruelty charge and released after posting a $50,000 bond.
Sources: CBS News, WFLA, Law & Crime, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office press statements by Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
Leave a Reply