Valley dog thrown in trash can, rescued

PHOENIX, AZ - The Arizona Humane Society will soon make a 2-year-old cattle dog available for adoption after he was rescued from a garbage can last week.

George Soria made the discovery while taking out the trash in the alley behind his home near 54th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard.

When Soria opened the lid to the trash can, he noticed something wrapped in a tarp struggling to get free.

Soria cut the tarp with a knife and discovered a 2-year-old cattle dog near death.

"I can't imagine why somebody would do that," said Emergency Animal Medical Technician Stephanie Johnston, who responded to Soria's home following the dog's discovery.

Workers at the Arizona Humane Society spent hours closing and cleaning multiple bite wounds on the dog.

Veterinarian Leo Egar told ABC15 it appears the dog had been in a fight with another dog before someone threw him in the trash can.

"I was shocked he survived," Egar said. "If we hadn't intervened, he was very close to death."

After only a week of recovery, the dog has already made some truly amazing strides.

In fact, if all goes according to plan, he should be ready for adoption by Christmas.

Workers at the Arizona Humane Society even gave him a new name, Murphy.

"To have been wrapped up and tossed in a dumpster like a piece of refuse was unbelievable because he's the nicest dog on Earth," Egar said.

To find out how to adopt Murphy, contact the Arizona Humane Society at 602-997-7586.