LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — On Wednesday, a 16-year-old Shih Tzu named Xyla was reunited with one of the Family Dollar employees who rescued her from the trash.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also recognized Luis Llado for his efforts.
“Thank God this man heard some rustling and moving in the trash, and they looked,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
GET MORE COVERAGE: Man arrested for dumping dog in bag behind Family Dollar in Lehigh Acres
Sheriff Marceno presented Llado with a plaque. Llado was grateful but also wanted to make sure his co-worker, Sophie Stevens, was recognized as well.
“Sophie went to the trash to throw it, and she saw the bag moving, and I thought it was a raccoon,” said Llado. “So we took the bag out, and I cut the top and the bag fell, and she was just sitting there like hot sweaty, didn’t smell good.”
Llado said they immediately rushed her to Blue Pearl for treatment and reported the abuse to the sheriff’s office. He also provided the surveillance video for detectives to try and locate her accused abuser.
“The trash can was empty, so when he tossed her, she just hit the metal; there was no trash in there, so from the height he threw her from there, it’s amazing she is still alive,” said Llado.
Xyla is doing well today; she is enjoying her time at Lee County Domestic Animal Services. She is not yet available for adoption.