NATCHEZ — Malnourished, dehydrated and ditched in a Dumpster, a dog estimated to be 6 months old was found at Village Green Apartments Thursday afternoon.

Property Manager Betty Whitney said one of her maintenance workers had gone to throw away some broken glass when he saw a pet carrier in the trash.

“He thought someone had thrown away a good carrier,” Whitney said.

But Whitney said when he pulled it out of the trash, he saw that a dog was in it, barely alive.

Natchez-Adams County Humane Society board member Nan Garrison said the dog was on its last leg.

“Basically, someone took a dog that was starving to death, put it in a carrier and put it in a Dumpster,” she said.

Pat Cox, humane society director, said the dog was taken to a vet.

“It was so weak, when it got there it couldn’t stand up,” Cox said. “There was no muscle left.

“It was nothing but skin and bones, and it’s just a baby.”

The dog was able to drink some water and after it’s body temperature was warmed up by a heating pad, it was able to eat.

Whitney said the dog was found before mid-afternoon but could not pinpoint a time when it was been dropped off.

“They emptied our trash (Wednesday), so they had to put in there (that) night or (Thursday) morning before we get here, and usually people get here around 7:30,” she said.

After the dog was found, Whitney said they contacted the Natchez Police Department, then animal control and finally the humane society.

Garrison said she can’t believe people would opt to throw animals away instead of dropping them off at the humane society.

“If you can’t afford to feed your animal, bring it to us, that’s what we’re here for,” she said. “The humane society has four cages out in front. If you can’t take care of your animal or find one on the road and don’t know what to do with it, put it in the drop off bins.”

The humane society is offering a reward to anyone who can provide information about the dog and its owners that would lead to their arrest and conviction.

“They need to pay for this,” Cox said.

Natchez Police Sgt. Craig Godbold said it would be a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty that could carry a fine up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

Garrison can be reached at 601-445-5698.