Puppy saved from trash can just in time

Yorkshire terrier was found in sodden plastic bags near Lawrence Square mall

Associate veterinarian Cristina Geston is used to animals being abandoned by their owners, often on the doorstep of the VCA Lawrence Veterinary Clinic where she works, but this was different.

The clinic’s receptionist was holding what looked like a sodden handful of plastic bags.

“A client found a puppy in the trash can,” the receptionist told her.

On July 11, Josh Miller, who has been to the clinic with his own pets, heard yelps coming from a garbage can at Lawrence Square Shopping Centre. Inside was a Yorkshire terrier puppy, only a few months old. When Geston opened up the bag she was “hit in the face with this overwhelming smell of urine.” The dog was “borderline comatose” and “severely dehydrated.”

The puppy was suffering from dangerously low blood sugar. After Geston gave her a little sugar on her gums, the puppy perked up, and they were able to get food in her.

“Another half-hour at most and she would’ve been dead.” CRISTINA GESTON ASSISTANT VETERINARIAN

“This was something so incredibly simple, that had (the suspect) taken her to a vet, taken her to a shelter, this puppy would have been back to normal in no time.” Geston said. “She needed food, and that’s it.”

Police said the incident happened on July 11 at 3:40 p.m. in the area of Dane Ave. and Blossomfield Dr., near the shopping mall at Lawrence Ave. W. and Allen Rd.

They put out a description of the suspect who dumped the puppy, and on Thursday morning, he turned himself in to police, something Geston was happy to hear.

“Another half-hour at most and she would’ve been dead,” she said. “I don’t know what his motivation was.”

Miller had some friends who were interested in adopting the puppy, and she is now in a “good home,” Geston said.

“(The puppy) was so sweet,” Geston said. “I felt a little bit of gratitude on her part, like, ‘Thank you for saving me.’ ”

Quang (Andrew) Tieu, 35, has been charged with wilfully causing unnecessary pain to an animal.

Police said they conducted search warrants as a result of the arrest, and they have seized 23 adult dogs and 14 puppies, which are now in the care of Toronto Animal Services.