NATCHEZ — Balancing on spindly, shaky little legs topped off by a round stomach and big honest brown eyes, the dog found in the Dumpster hardly appears to be the same Chihuahua mix brought in last week.

But it is.

The dog, estimated 6 months old, that was found locked in a pet carrier in a Dumpster at Village Green Apartments, could hardly take an IV when it was brought to Natchez Veterinary Clinic on Friday.

After a little while, he began to eat and drink some but his personality was one of distrust and agitation, said Nan Garrison, Natchez-Adams Humane Society board member.

“He’s a happy fellow now,” she said. “He’s much more agreeable now than he was.”

While he’s put on a little weight, which is evident by a fist-sized stomach, he still has a ways to go.

“He is still severely underweight,” Garrison said. “He’s got several weeks to go before he could be released by a (vet.)”

As far as being up for adoption, it’s still a wait-and-see situation until the canine is better shape, said Pat Cox, humane society director.

“We want to be sure that everything is OK before we put him up for adoption,” she said. “We want to give him time to really mend.”

This includes seeing an improvement in a heart murmur that was detected, but it’s believed it was a result of being so anemic.

Once he gets stronger, it should fade, Cox said.

And already he’s made vast improvements.

“We’re so thrilled over his progress because we really didn’t think he was going to make it,” she said.

Garrison said she already has a waiting list six people deep for the dog.

The pup — who still is without a name — was found by a maintenance worker at Village Green Apartments, when he though someone had thrown away a pet carrier.

When he fished it out, he saw there was a dog inside and called the Natchez Police Department, animal control and the humane society.

The dog is thought to have been put in the Dumpster between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The humane society is offering a reward for anyone with information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties responsible for this crime.

Garrison can be reached at 601-445-5698.