What happened to Xyla should never happen to any living being. The 16-year-old Shih Tzu, once a beloved pet, was found tied in a trash bag and dumped in a Florida dumpster — discarded like garbage.
But thanks to one observant store worker and a community that refused to stay silent, her story became one of survival, justice, and hope.
An Unthinkable Discovery
On the morning of December 14, 2023, Luis Llado, an employee at a Family Dollar store in Lehigh Acres, was taking out the trash when he noticed something strange: one of the garbage bags in the dumpster was moving.
Inside, wrapped in plastic with a rope tied around her neck, was Xyla — still alive.
“I cut open the bag and she was just sitting there — hot, sweaty, and scared,” Llado recalled. “She didn’t smell good, but she was alive.”
It was nothing short of a miracle. Earlier that same day, the dumpster had already been emptied. If Xyla had been thrown away just a few hours earlier, she would have been compacted with the rest of the trash.
Emergency Response
Luis didn’t hesitate. He rushed the frail senior dog to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, where veterinarians scanned her microchip and discovered she’d belonged to a deceased couple. After their passing, Xyla had been placed in the care of a relative.
It was that very relative — 55-year-old Anthony Bellman — who would later be identified on surveillance footage, caught dumping her into the trash from the back of a blue minivan.
Confronted by authorities, Bellman admitted to trying to end Xyla’s life himself, claiming it was “too upsetting” to take her to a clinic. Instead, he chose cruelty.
“No living thing deserves to be thrown away.”
For Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, the case struck a nerve.
“You can see in the footage he has absolutely zero regard for her,” Sheriff Marceno said. “This video is disgusting. He literally throws a life away.”
Bellman was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony. He was also added to Lee County’s Animal Abuser Registry, ensuring he can never legally own another pet.
Xyla’s Second Chance
Despite her age, partial blindness, and the trauma she endured, Xyla wasn’t ready to give up. After being stabilized and transferred to Lee County Domestic Animal Services, she began her slow but steady recovery.
And she didn’t go unnoticed.
Animal lovers from all over the country rallied behind her. In photos and videos shared online, Xyla could be seen standing on her own, wagging her tail, and enjoying long-overdue affection.
“She’s a beautiful old lady,” said Luis, the man who saved her life. “It’s amazing to see her happy again.”
From Trash to Triumph
Xyla’s journey is a painful reminder of how vulnerable animals can be — especially when left in the wrong hands. But it’s also a story of incredible resilience and the power of doing the right thing.
She may have been thrown away, but she wasn’t forgotten.
Now surrounded by care, comfort, and compassion, Xyla is finally living the peaceful life every animal deserves — proving that even the cruelest acts can be overcome when good people choose to act.
If this story moved you, share it. Let’s make sure Xyla’s nightmare never happens to another pet.
