A dog rescued from a Richmond dumpster on Thursday morning turned out to have been "on the lam" since last year.
"This poor pup was on the run for about six months," Richmond animal control officer Jag Sidhu told the Richmond News.
Alonso the dog was discovered by an employee at Nuera Nutraceutical Inc., a neighbouring business by the Richmond Animal Shelter on No. 5 Road.
When the employee reported the discovery to the shelter around 7 a.m., Sidhu immediately ran next door.
"I think he was maybe a beagle mixed with a chihuahua, something like that. And this poor dog was just sitting there, just shivering in the corner of the dumpster," Sidhu recalled.
With the help of a ladder, he climbed inside and sat with Alonso for "a few minutes" to build trust. Alonso eventually allowed Sidhu to pet him, and after a few more minutes, Sidhu wrapped him up in a blanket and rescued him from the dumpster.
Alonso likely did not have a "big fall" as the dumpster was connected to a loading bay at the business and had "quite a bit of padding," said Sidhu.
While no one knows how Alonso had gotten into his predicament, Richmond Animal Shelter staff suspect he had walked right off the loading bay and into the dumpster earlier in the morning.
BC SPCA Richmond manager Krista Shaw told the News Alonso was a little bit dehydrated and skinny, but he didn't look like he had been missing for six months.
Sidhu added Alonso seemed really hungry, having devoured his food once he was safe in the shelter.
A search of Alonso's tag revealed he was from another rescue. He escaped from a foster home last year and went on a grand adventure.
"He had been on the loose for the last six months in Richmond, baiting coyotes and whatever may also be out for him," Sidhu added.
After being reunited with his previous rescue, Alonso is now heading to the vet.
"We are grateful for the assistance (Nuera) provided our (animal control officer) in rescuing Alonso," said Shaw.
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