A poor puppy was mercilessly thrown into the garbage chute of a high-rise building in Lower Manhattan on Friday – but he survived the fall and was rescued when a construction worker heard his horrified howls in the trash compactor.
“This is bad, man. This is animal cruelty. I’m not for it,” local resident Jose Reynoso told the Post.
“It’s like doing that to a human being. Who would do something like that? It would be someone who is evil through and through.”
The injured dog was discovered shortly before 10:30 a.m. in the Gov. Alfred E. Smith Houses, a NYCHA complex beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, the NYPD said.
An employee nicknamed “Caretaker Jay” was cleaning the trash compactor when he heard the dog howling, police and residents said.
A worker confirmed that the animal’s legs were broken in the fall.
It is unclear how long the dog was trapped in the garbage compactor before he was rescued.
“Obviously this person was not in his right mind. This is terrible,” said resident Michelle B.
Police said the animal had matted fur and had obviously been “poorly cared for” before being disposed of with the trash.
Caretaker Jay was “traumatized” by the discovery and rescue.
“(He) had to go home for the day,” said an employee who did not give his name.
According to Aixa Torres, president of the Alfred E. Smith Resident Association, the dog had never been seen in the building before.
“Nobody knows who the dog belongs to. They don’t recognize the dog,” Torres said.
Attention: graphic content
Now, a haunting photo of the filthy dog - looking nearly dead after his life-saving rescue – hangs in the lobby of the NYCHA building, pleading with anyone with information to call police.
In the harrowing image, the dog is seen lying exhausted on his side. His white fur is stained brown on his face and broken legs due to the traumatic abuse.
“This is terrible. Who would do something like that? This is a breathing animal. Who would do something like that? Wow,” said 65-year-old Carmen Lesbier.
“If they do it to an animal, they do it to a human being. It’s disgusting!” said Maria, a local resident who did not want to give her last name.
The dog was handed over to the ASPCA for treatment. Representatives of the animal welfare organization did not respond to calls from the Post.
No arrests were made and investigations are ongoing.
