Senior Dog Tossed Into Dumpster Now Safe, Suspect Faces Justice
Sweet Xyla Survives Horrific Abuse
A routine day at a Family Dollar in Lehigh Acres, Florida turned into a race against time. Employees noticed something moving inside a trash bag in the dumpster—and inside, they found Xyla, a frail 16-year-old Shih Tzu, with a rope tightly around her neck. Recognizing the danger she was in, they rushed her immediately to a vet hospital determined to save her life.
At the hospital, veterinarians confirmed Xyla was alive but had been on the verge of a painful death. Sheriff Marceno said, “Her last moments would have been like drowning from the inside out.” Xyla, who is “blind to a certain extent,” was surprisingly resilient given her age and circumstances.
“These heroic employees recognized this to be purposeful abuse and rushed Xyla to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital for evaluation,” Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Investigation and Arrest
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation. Surveillance footage revealed a suspect arriving at the dumpster in his vehicle, removing a bundled trash bag from the trunk, and tossing it in from several feet away. Using microchip records, detectives discovered that Xyla’s original owners were deceased. Further investigation led them to a nearby residence with a vehicle matching the one seen on camera.
There, investigators found the homeowner Anthony Bellman, 55, who was wearing the same clothing as the suspect in the footage. They learned that Xyla was his wife’s parents dog, both of whom were deceased. Bellman’s wife told investigators that he was going to take the dog to be euthanized. Bellman reportedly told officers that he had put down a dog before and it was “just too sad.”
He was taken in for questioning and charged with felony animal cruelty. He was later found guilty of two felony animal cruelty counts and one misdemeanor.
“Instead of landing in a dumpster where he belongs, Bellman landed in jail,” Sheriff Marceno said after arresting Bellman. “The message is clear: you abuse an animal in Lee County, Florida, and we will hunt you down and no matter where you go, you’re coming back to be fully charged to the fullest extent of the law.”
Xyla’s Road to Recovery
Xyla was taken into the care of Lee County Domestic Animal Services and given some much needed attention. Despite her age and partial blindness, she began to recover, surrounded by compassionate care.
Xyla began living with a foster family where she is “healthy and happy.” The family decided to give her a forever home where she can spend her remaining years in comfort and safety.
Community Heroes
Sheriff Marceno and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office decided to highlight the critical role of the Family Dollar employee, Luis Llado, in saving Xyla. During a private ceremony, Marceno honored Llado with a plaque for his outstanding service to his community and Xyla was in attendance.
“Thank God this man (Llado) heard Xyla in the dumpster and found her before it was too late,” he said. “It’s a happy day as Xyla is running around our headquarters. Mr. Llado should be proud of himself for his involvement in this case.”
“We are ONE team that comes together to be a voice for the innocent, such as Xyla. We will never stop holding individuals accountable for these heinous actions here in this county,” Sheriff Marceno said.