Dog's Leg Amputated After Man Threw It Down 3-Story Garbage Chute

A San Francisco man was arrested Friday for dropping a dog down a three-story garbage chute and leaving it with a broken leg in the dumpster for four days.

Rocky, a four-month-old Chihuahua mix puppy, was found alive in the dumpster buried under garbage on Feb. 25, 2018. The dog had a “severely broken” rear leg and was dehydrated.

The suspect, Ronald Louis Jones, was identified through security footage in which he was seen disposing of the dog down a garbage chute. He first grabbed the pooch and slammed it several times against the elevator door before dragging the dog to another area of the building and dropping it down a garbage chute, CBS Local reported.

The dog survived four days in a dumpster, eating garbage.

Officials with the San Francisco Department of Animal and Control said the dog’s leg was amputated after veterinarians determined it was not possible to repair the bone surgically, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Virginia Donohue of San Francisco Animal Care and Control said, “I am pleased that the diligent work by ACC’s animal control officers has led to an arrest in this appalling case. We will not tolerate animal abuse in San Francisco.”

"When you see the evidence we saw it is clear to us the person had no respect for life. It was atrocious and cruel,” she added.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón issued a statement saying, “The level of callousness alleged is stunningly atrocious. A person who would cause this degree of harm to a defenseless dog should not be allowed to have any animal in their care.”

The dog, traumatized by the ordeal, was recovering at a foster facility.

"She is doing great on three legs. She is energetic and adapting very quickly to her new body,” Rebecca Fenson, who will adopt the dog said, ABC 7 reported. "Yes, my husband and I are adopting Rocky. We have room in our household. We have one small dog now and we would love for her to have a sister and Rocky is gonna be Darla's sister.”

Jones, 54, who was charged with felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor abandonment of an animal, appeared before a court Friday and entered a plea of not guilty. He was due in court March. 28.