Anthony Lee Bellman threw a 16-year-old Shih Tzu, Xyla, into a dumpster, deputies said. (Images: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida says a 55-year-old man threw his 16-year-old Shih Tzu in a trash bag “8-10 feet” to a dollar store dumpster, leaving the canine with a rope around her neck.
Anthony Lee Bellman allegedly told investigators that he had used the rope in an attempt to “snap the dog’s neck or strangle her.” Bellman said he was supposed to take the pet, named Xyla, to the Humane Society for proper euthanasia, but it was “too sad” the last time he did that for a dog, according to the probable cause statement.
The manager at a Family Dollar in Lehigh Acres told investigators that she and the store owner were preparing to empty their trash at approximately 4 p.m. when they saw a black trash bag in the dumpster, documents state. Something was moving in the bag.
“They removed the bag from the dumpster and located a dog with a white rope around its neck,” authorities wrote.
The store owner took the canine to a pet hospital.
Surveillance footage showed a blue Hyundai pulled next to the dumpster at approximately 2:30 p.m., deputies said. The driver, a bald white man wearing a red and blue shirt, stepped out of the car, according to documents.
“The male opens the trunk of the vehicle and removes a large black trash bag, with an obvious object inside, and throws it in the dumpster,” authorities wrote. “The trash bag flew approximately 8-10 feet before it landed in the dumpster. The male closes the trunk, enters the driver’s seat, and leaves the parking lot, traveling southbound on Bell Blvd.”
Investigators discovered the dog had a microchip. The listed owner was William Cunningham, and law enforcement tracked down the linked phone number to him and Jayne Cunningham, according to documents. Both people were dead. Through them, however, investigators tracked down defendant Bellman, who lived about a mile from the Family Dollar, according to the probable cause statement. It so happened that he also allegedly had a 2023 blue Hyundai Venue, which closely resembled the car in the surveillance video.
At his home, Bellman confirmed to detectives that “he was at the Family Dollar earlier and seen wearing the same clothes he wore as he threw Xyla in the dumpster,” according to documents.
The other person who lived at his home said that Bellman was supposed to take Xyla to the humane society to be euthanized that day, deputies said.
From documents:
Post Miranda, Anthony stated he was supposed to take the dog to the vet to be properly euthanized, however, the last time he euthanized a dog it was too sad. Instead, Anthony took the dog to a remote location in Lehigh, took a rope, and placed it around the dog’s neck, using a ‘slip knot’. Anthony pulled the rope quickly, hoping to snap the dog’s neck or strangle her. After checking that the dog had no signs of life[,] Anthony drove to the Family Dollar at 630 Bell Blvd. and threw the dog into the dumpster like a piece of trash.
When Detective Snowden advised Anthony his efforts to euthanize the dog’s life were unsuccessful, and the dog was being treated at the vet Anthony showed an immediate emotional response.
A vet determined that Xyla was at a high risk of suffocating and experiencing heat stroke, especially in light of severe hair matting and possible cardiovascular disease.
Deputies said Monday that the dog is recovering at the Lee County Domestic Animal Services.
Records show authorities booked Bellman into the Lee County jail on Friday for a count of aggravated animal cruelty, and he posted a $50,000 bond that same day.
His attorney made a written plea of not guilty on his behalf Monday, records show. The lawyer, Michael F. Hornung, did not immediately respond to a Law&Crime request for comment.
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