Late one night in Dickson, Tennessee, an act of heartless cruelty unfolded outside the Humane Society of Dickson County. Surveillance cameras quietly recorded the heartbreaking event as a white Ford F-150 pulled into the shelter’s parking lot. In the bed of the truck sat a wire crate—bare, damaged, and without a bottom. Inside that crate was a one-year-old German Shepherd, alone and clearly frightened.

According to the staff at the Humane Society, the driver stepped out of the truck, dragged the crate roughly to the side of the building, then turned back toward the dog and made a crude, dismissive hand gesture before driving away without a hint of hesitation. No hesitation. No second glance. Just abandonment.

When the staff reviewed the footage, they were shocked. Angel Vance, the shelter’s Canine Connections Coordinator, spoke to WSMV4 about her reaction: “I personally had never seen anything like that before,” she said. “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 it as well.”

The young dog, now named Nyx, is currently safe in the shelter’s care. While her body shows no injuries, her emotional state tells a different story. She remains guarded and unsure of people, a natural response to such sudden betrayal and cruelty. Vance added, “She’s still warming up to people,” explaining that the staff is moving slowly and gently, letting Nyx set the pace for her own healing. They are determined not to rush her, ensuring that when the time comes for adoption, she’ll be placed with someone who fully understands her past and her emotional needs. She deserves nothing less.

Unfortunately, Nyx’s story isn’t rare. It’s a tragic example of a much larger problem. The shelter, already operating at three times its intended capacity, continues to receive animals that have been abandoned, neglected, or surrendered. Many are victims of similar circumstances—dumped without warning, care, or concern. “We see it a lot,” Vance admitted. “It happens. I mean, every day out here.” That frequency doesn’t make it any easier for the staff to bear. Each case is a life—a living, breathing being who has been failed by someone they trusted.

In response to the incident, the shelter is asking for the community’s help. They’ve released images of the man and his truck, and they are urging anyone who may recognize the individual to come forward. Even the smallest detail—something as simple as a partial license plate or a name mentioned in passing—could help bring justice for Nyx.

The Humane Society of Dickson County isn’t stopping there. They’re calling on the community to support in other meaningful ways. Adopting a pet, fostering animals in need, making donations, and especially choosing to spay and neuter pets can make a tremendous difference. These actions not only help reduce the strain on overcrowded shelters but also prevent future cases of abandonment like Nyx’s.

In a Facebook post dated June 3, 2025, the shelter shared a message along with photos of the man and his truck: “\*\*\*\*\* We need your help\*\*\*\*\* The person in the attached photo arrived at our shelter last night in a white Ford F-150…” The message is urgent, straightforward, and heartfelt: “The dog is now safe and receiving care, but we must hold this individual accountable. Please share this post to help us find them.”

This isn’t just about one man or one dog. It’s about what kind of community we want to be. It’s about making sure that animals like Nyx don’t have to suffer in silence, that they aren’t discarded like trash, that someone stands up for them when they’ve been wronged. The people at the Humane Society of Dickson County are doing that every day, but they need help. They need a community that won’t turn away. They need people who are willing to step up and speak out.

Nyx didn’t ask for this. She didn’t deserve to be left in a broken crate in the middle of the night. She didn’t deserve the fear, the confusion, or the loneliness. What she does deserve is kindness, patience, and a second chance at a real life with a loving family. That’s what the shelter is working to give her—but justice must be part of her story too.

If you know anything—anything at all—that could help identify the man who abandoned Nyx, please contact the Humane Society of Dickson County. No tip is too small. And if you’re moved by Nyx’s story, consider what you can do to make a difference. Open your home. Donate what you can. Encourage your neighbors to spay and neuter their pets. Share Nyx’s story.

Every act of compassion counts. Every effort to stop cruelty matters. Let’s not fail Nyx again. Let her be the reason we do better—not just for her, but for all the animals still waiting behind shelter walls for someone to care. In a world that too often looks the other way, let’s choose to be the ones who don’t. Let’s choose to be the ones who stand up, speak out, and show up.

Because how we treat the most vulnerable says everything about who we are.