Puppy named “Treasure” rescued after dumped in Ybor City dumpster

YBOR CITY, FL. – A the puppy was rescued after it was dumped in trash near Ybor City last week. Mercy Full Project reported that the puppy was found in a dumpster near East Fourth Avenue last Thursday morning.

Heidi Acuna, founder and director of Mercy Full Project, said she was found by Good Samaritans and surveillance video from a nearby business captured the moment she was thrown into a dumpster. She said they named the puppy, who is about four to five months old, “Treasure.”

“Someone’s trash is other people’s treasure, and that’s why we called her treasure,” Acuna said.

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She said the puppy was brought to Mercy Full Project hungry and dehydrated after Cladding Systems security cameras captured the moment Treasure was thrown into a dumpster.

“Pure anger,” Acuna said. “Why would anyone do that?”

Surveillance footage shows two people walking along East 4th Avenue one evening last week. The video shows one person walking towards a dumpster with the puppy following, before that person picks her up, throws her in the dumpster and runs away.

“It’s just crazy to think about what was going on in that person’s head, just throwing that animal in the dumpster, not thinking that it could just die like that, like trash,” Acuna said.

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Cladding Systems said two employees found Treasure in a dumpster about 12 hours after it was thrown out. Acuna said that, unfortunately, this is not uncommon.

“Before Milton, we were already overwhelmed by the number of people who were just giving up their animals and contacting us to surrender animals,” she said.

She said they also saw many animals abandoned, just like Treasure. Acuna said the situation with dumping, abandonment and surrender of animals has gotten worse since Hurricane Milton. She hopes stories like this will make people think twice.

“These animals do not deserve any harm or neglect,” Acuna said.

The Mercy Full Project says Treasure is now safe and healthy, but she is not ready for adoption yet. Acuna said they reported the incident to animal control.

You can get more information about foster care and adoption through Mercy Full Project. Here.

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