Clean-Up Crew Worker Adopts Puppy He Found Abandoned in Trash: 'Fell Instantly in Love'

Missouri Stream Team Coordinator Brian Waldrop adopted the dog after finding him in a trash bag

A Missouri puppy who was discovered abandoned in a pile of trash now has a new home.

On Wednesday, the state's Department of Conservation shared on Facebook that a group scouting local clean-up locations in the St. Louis area the day before stumbled upon an abandoned puppy "dumped in a trash pile."

The post added that the group searching for clean-up locations comprised people from Missouri Stream Teams, Beyond Housing, and citizens from a Tiered Community.

Photos from the social media post show the small white dog tucked between trash bags and surrounded by bottles and candy wrappers.

Thankfully, the canine's story didn't end there.

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"Luckily, Stream Team Coordinator Brian Waldrop adopted this little guy, and he’s getting his first check-up at the vet today," the Missouri Department of Conservation shared on Facebook.

The agency also shared photos of a worker pulling the puppy from the trash pile and of the dog all cleaned up with a pink leash around his neck.

"Thank you for saving this little guy! So thankful your crew was in the right place at the right time," one local wrote, while another added: "People are cruel… this breaks my heart… thank you Brian for being a blessing to this sweet babe."

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A report from KTVI FOX 2 noted that the puppy was 12 weeks old when he was discovered in the trash. His new owner opened up to the outlet about the "unexpected" story.

"It's a happy ending story or at least a happy beginning story," Waldrop said. "He was found in a black trash bag in a pile of trash. His first name could've been Hefty. And then it was Be Well My Son, and then it turned into Welston... Right now, it's just good ole' Dude. He's just a cute little puppy."

Waldrop said the puppy was "quite yellow" when rescuers discovered him, adding that the pet "magically turned white" after his first bath.

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"We were up there in North County scouting out some trash for an upcoming cleanup, and here's what we thought was a carcass, and it moved! Immediately I was down on my hands and knees and picked it up and fell instantly in love with the little booger," Waldrop said.

"What a great personality, and he's so soft!" he added.

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