Late one night in Dickson, Tennessee, a white Ford F-150 pulled into the parking lot of the Humane Society of Dickson County. In the back was a wire crate without a bottom. Inside that crate was a one-year-old German Shepherd.

The man driving got out, dragged the crate to the side of the shelter, made a crude hand gesture toward the dog, and drove off.

Security cameras captured everything. The shelter staff later reviewed the footage and were stunned.

“I personally had never seen anything like that before,” Angel Vance, Canine Connections Coordinator, told WSMV. “I was very, very upset about it. I was not very happy about the situation to see how he had treated her when not only did he just dump her, but he was not very kind to her when he did dump her as well.”

A man dumped a one-year-old dog in a wire crate at a Tennessee shelter.

Nyx’s New Beginning

The dog, now named Nyx, is in the care of the shelter. She's safe but still wary. Shelter staff say she’s making progress but isn’t ready for adoption yet.

They want to take their time, helping Nyx build trust before placing her in a permanent home.

“She’s still warming up to people,” Vance explained. Staff are observing her behavior and will only place her with a family that truly understands her needs.

Photo: Facebook / Humane Society of Dickson County

The crate had no bottom, leaving the dog exposed to the ground.

Shelter Stretched Beyond Capacity

This incident happened while the shelter was already operating at triple capacity. Abandonments, like what happened to Nyx, aren’t rare.

“We see it a lot,” Vance told WSMV. “It happens. I mean, every day out here.”

The shelter has made an urgent plea to the public. They’re asking for help identifying the man who dumped Nyx.

How You Can Help

The shelter is urging anyone with information to call. Photos of the man and his truck are available online, and even the smallest tip might lead to accountability.

Staff are also calling on the community to step up in other ways. They emphasized spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of animals left to fend for themselves.

The Humane Society shared a simple but powerful statement after the incident: “The dog is now safe and receiving care, but we must hold this individual accountable. Please share this post to help us find them."