A 1-year-old Labrador retriever mix nicknamed "Sniffy" is in safe hands and looking for a new home after a mother-daughter duo rescued the abandoned pup from a dumpster Tuesday.
Alejandra “Alex” Martinez was driving along 36th Street in Jurupa Valley when her daughter, 14-year-old Lexi Ficarella, noticed something pop up from inside the dumpster. The two also said they saw a woman standing in front of the dumpster.
Her mother drove back to the dumpster, and upon arrival, a dog greeted them.
Martinez said she asked the woman if the dog was hers, but the woman said no and left the area. According to Martinez, the woman seemed suspicious, and what concerned her most was that it appeared the woman closed the lid of the dumpster without any regard for the dog.
The mother-daughter duo took the dog home with them and provided it with food and water. Martinez then called Riverside County Animal Services.
"Most people might not want to get involved," Riverside County Animal Services Director Robert Miller said. "They may call us. Some people, maybe, might keep driving. Not this great mother and daughter. They not only got involved, they stepped up to assist what was clearly an animal in need."
Martinez believes someone purposely put the dog in the dumpster, as it appeared too high for the dog to have jumped in himself.
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"What kind of person does this? It’s just horrible," Martinez said. "Why would you do this? If you don’t want your dog any more, take the pet to the animal shelter. Don’t throw them in the trash."
The dog is now up for adoption if its rightful owner does not show up to claim it.
