A dog found duct-taped inside a dumpster in Omaha has finally found a forever home after 884 days at the Nebraska Humane Society, one of the longest stays in the shelter’s history.

Leo was discovered in April 2024 by Barry O’Halloran and his wife Judy, who were horrified to find the frightened puppy with tape wrapped around his head and feet, minutes before a garbage truck arrived. Judy climbed into the dumpster to pull him to safety.

Because his abuse case was still moving through the courts, Leo could not be adopted. He spent more than two years at the shelter, becoming a beloved fixture in the administration offices, where he joined meetings and greeted every visitor like a friend.

In mid-September 2026, the case was finally resolved and Leo was cleared for adoption. The adopter was a Nebraska Humane Society volunteer who had followed his journey all along. Staff threw him a ‘gotcha day’ party with a cake decorated with his photo, attended by Barry and Judy.