On April 16, the community was shocked to learn about Leo, a missing dog found in terrible conditions—covered in duct tape and left in a dumpster, seemingly to prevent any chance of survival.
The Nebraska Humane Society quickly sought assistance to find those responsible for such a cruel act. Leo was discovered by employees of an Omaha accounting firm when they heard unusual noises coming from their office dumpster on April 14.
Initially thinking it might be a raccoon, they were horrified to discover Leo, trapped and helpless, with his legs and tail confined by duct tape and debris tangled in his fur.
Kevin Wiederin, an employee at the firm, described the situation as the worst he’d ever witnessed. Assistance came from Aaron O’Connell, who managed to rescue a dog through his work with a pet charity, while the firm alerted Animal Control.
Officers arrived to carefully untangle Leo and transport him to the Nebraska Humane Society, where staff worked meticulously to remove the tape and clean him.
Remarkably, after being sedated, Leo recovered well, wagging his tail and displaying resilience despite his traumatic experience.
Thanks to Leo’s microchip, rescuers were able to find his owner, Erin Dillon-Pasillas, who had been desperately searching for him after reporting him missing days earlier.
Upon hearing the news, Erin experienced a mix of relief and distress over his ordeal but was overjoyed to reunite with her beloved pet. Although Leo now has a shorter haircut, he remains healthy.
Erin affectionately described him as the world’s cutest dog and was bewildered at why anyone would wish him harm. Unfortunately, the remote location where Leo was abandoned offered no surveillance to aid the investigation.
Despite this, Leo’s story underscores both the cruelty some are capable of and the incredible compassion that can emerge in response.
With the help and love of caring individuals, Leo is now safely back home, more cherished than ever by his grateful family.
