Puppy saved after being buried alive

WILLISTON, Fla. (WSVN) -- A puppy was buried alive, and its whimpering saved his life.

Police were out destroying evidence per court orders in a wooded area, near Gainesville Thursday, when they heard a whimpering sound.

From under the dirt, they found a disturbing discovery. A puppy was buried six to eight inches deep alive.

Police officers believe he was buried underground not too long before they discovered him fighting for air. "Whoever buried him, didn't compress the dirt," said Williston Chief Dennis Strow. "He's an active little fellow, and I think doing this, he created somewhat of a little hole, you know for air pocket."

The week-old puppy, whose eyes and ears were still shut was rushed to an animal hospital where a vet confirmed he looked healthy and well fed. "He actually did not look that bad," said Dr. Tricia Prine. "He had a lot of dirt and clay kind of caked on him, on the back of his neck."

The puppy has already been named Tucker, and it has since found a loving family.

Still, police said, the careless act was definitely intentional and almost proved deadly. "This place is, it's kind of out in the middle of nowhere, and you have to know where it is in order to get to it. So someone knows what they do back there, I think, and went out there and purposely did it because they probably thought they were going to get away with it."

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