It’s an unfortunate fact that some people treat their pets like garbage. But no dog deserves the fate that befell an Orlando dog who was discovered stuck inside a trash can.
A Stinky Situation
The canine’s name is Panda, and she’s estimated to be 4 years old. She was pulled from the garbage bin by Orange County Animal Services in Florida after they received a call from a resident nearby who noticed the pup peeking out.
“The garbage can, the lid, was actually sealed onto the garbage can so our officer had to pry the lid open to get her out,” Orange County Animal Services employee Bryant Almeida told WESH 2 News. “Judging from the height of the garbage can, we don’t think she made it on there on her own.”
Whether Panda slipped inside while dumpster diving or was put there by a person is unknown, but Almeida estimates that the pup was in the trash can for as many as two days. Scars she bears indicate she was on the streets “for a while” and was likely bitten by another animal at some point.
A Fresh Start
As soon as Panda was rescued, she was shuttled straight to a veterinarian clinic.
“When we arrived, we found a shy and gentle beauty, trembling and heavily scarred,” Orange County Animal Services shared in a post on its Instagram account. “We are doing what we have to do for her. She is safe and cared for.”
Panda is currently with a foster family but seeking a forever home.
“We are definitely hoping that she can get home for the holidays,” Almeida told WESH 2 News. “She needs love. A lot of love, a lot of attention, a lot of patience. Like most of our dogs, they’ve been through something. They’ve had long lives up to this point, so we always ask our adopters, just take your time.”
But not too much time! Pups like Panda are in dire need of TLC. We hope she finds a special family soon.
