Officer Adopts Puppy Rescued from Trash Can in Gardena
Gardena Sergeant Adopts Puppy Rescued from Trash Can
A Terrier mix puppy, abandoned in a trash can in Gardena, is set to find a new home with the very officer who helped rescue him.
Gardena Police Sergeant Nick Beerling responded to a distress call regarding whimpering sounds emanating from a trash can outside a local church. Upon arriving, Beerling discovered that the locked trash can posed a challenge for animal control officers. The fire department was subsequently called to cut the lock and provide access.
Once inside, Beerling and his team were met with a heart-wrenching sight: a small dog perched atop discarded waste, visibly shaken and whimpering. “We looked into it a little bit further and found out it was like a self-compacting type trash can that eventually would have, unfortunately, crushed him,” Beerling noted.
The puppy was taken to spcaLA for medical treatment and nourishment. After being checked for a microchip, he remained under a mandatory three-day stray hold in case an owner came forward.
On Christmas Eve, Beerling returned to spcaLA South Bay with his family to adopt the puppy, who had been named Flan by the shelter. However, Beerling decided to rename him Norm, a nod to the location where he was found on Normandie Avenue.
Beerling’s wife shared that they had been contemplating adding a dog to their family. “The girls and I have been trying to convince him to get another pet for a while, and he hasn’t wanted to commit, but this little guy just tugged on his heart,” she said.
Though the family is currently on vacation, they anticipate welcoming Norm home soon.
