In April, employees at an Omaha office heard something moving in a dumpster and assumed it was a raccoon. What they found instead was a small dog wrapped in duct tape, and a rescue that came with only minutes to spare.
A Noise in the Dumpster
According to the Nebraska Humane Society, workers at the accounting firm Sweets & Associates, near 132nd Street and West Center Road, heard rustling in the dumpster behind their building on a Sunday evening. They assumed it was a raccoon. The next morning, they looked again and found a dog in terrible condition.
Tape was wrapped around his head, legs and tail, and his fur was matted with food and dirt. “I have never seen anything like it,” employee Kevin Wiederin said in the shelter’s press release, according to KLKN. Animal control arrived around 10 a.m.
Thirty Minutes From Disaster
The timing was critical. The shelter said a trash truck came to the dumpster about 30 minutes after the dog was rescued and emptied it. Without that call, the outcome could have been very different.
The Microchip That Made the Difference
At the shelter, staff sedated the dog, removed the tape and gave him a bath to clear off the debris. He had some mild skin irritation but was in good spirits when he woke up. A microchip identified him as Leo, and the shelter reached his owner, Erin Pasillas, who had reported him missing on April 11.
Pasillas believes Leo slipped out of the house while she was taking her son to school. “He’s the sweetest dog! I don’t know why anyone would do this,” she told the shelter, according to WJW.
Looking for the Person Responsible
Nobody knows who taped up Leo. The shelter said the dumpsters behind the business are isolated and there are no cameras in the area. It offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and asked anyone with details to call Animal Control at 402-444-7800, extension 1.
Keeping Your Pet Findable and Safe
Leo’s story is a reminder of how much a simple identification chip can matter. A few steps help bring a lost pet home:
- Microchipping. A pet microchip is a quick, one-time procedure at the vet, and many owners also pay for a microchip registration that keeps their contact details current.
- ID tags and collars. A durable pet ID tag or QR code tag lets anyone who finds your pet contact you right away.
- GPS trackers. A GPS pet tracker shows where your dog is in real time, though some require a monthly subscription.
- Secure fencing. Dog-proof fencing, gate latches and door sensors reduce the chance of a quick escape.
- Pet insurance. Pet insurance can help with emergency vet bills after an injury or an unexpected incident.
- Lost-pet services. Many communities offer lost pet alert services and local shelter listings that make it easier to search quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who found Leo? Employees of Sweets & Associates, an Omaha accounting firm, found him in the dumpster behind their building.
How did the shelter find Leo’s owner? A microchip identified him, and the Nebraska Humane Society contacted his owner, Erin Pasillas.
Is Leo okay? The shelter said he had mild skin irritation but was otherwise in good spirits and wagging his tail once the tape was removed.
Has anyone been arrested? No arrest has been publicly reported, and the shelter offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to one.
How can I report information? Call Nebraska Humane Society Animal Control at 402-444-7800, extension 1.
Sources: WJW (FOX 8), KLKN, and WFTV, all covering the April 2024 rescue of Leo, a missing dog found wrapped in duct tape in an Omaha dumpster, and the Nebraska Humane Society’s search for the person responsible.
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