Tiny Yorkie Recovering After He Was Left For Dead Near Dumpster In High Heat

ALLEN PARK (CBS Detroit) His day was already looking up Thursday, as the matted and scared Yorkie mix spent the morning at the groomer getting pretty.

It was a far cry from the day before when the little guy was found in a filthy cage in direct sunlight, without food or water, next to a Dumpster as the temperature soared into the 90s. He was left in Champaign Park on Pelham Road in Allen Park.

This is the second time in a month that an ill-treated Yorkie was discovered left near a Dumpster downriver. One was left in a trash bag outside the animal shelter in Woodhaven at the end of June.

In this case, Downriver Central Animal Shelter staff think he was left there to die, potentially by someone who meant to toss him in the Dumpster and was scared away in the act.

Why would someone do that? There's no clear answer. But police are hoping someone turns in the culprit.

"He's doing good considering what happened to him," Downriver Central Animal Control's Chuck Gillenwater said. "All in all, he's kind of cheerful. He's a very playful dog, he's got a lot of energy. Sometimes he cowers, but when you pet him he lights up."

The dog is young, probably 2 years old at the oldest, Gillenwater said.

And from the looks of it, he's spent most of his life in the cage. "It wasn't like he was just put in there," Gillenwater said.

On the day he was found, the dog was outside in the cage an estimated 12 hours. "I would have to say somebody did this when it was dark, so early morning, 4 or 5, and just left him there," Gillenwater said.

The dog seems to be recovering from his ordeal quickly, and dozens of potential adopters are already calling the shelter and filling out applications.

"He's just scared, that's all," a shelter staffer said. "Many, many people have called about him, so that's nice, hopefully we're getting some good leads...He's doing fine otherwise, they're still investigating, they don't have any clues yet."

If anyone has information related to who may be responsible, please call 734-246-1328, ext. 9.

Also, the shelter is seeking volunteers for feeding, cleaning, walking, and other tasks. If anyone wants to volunteer, donate supplies, or assist with the treatment of this dog or others, click here.