While walking his own dog, a man accidentally discovered another dog that had been buried alive under a pile of sand in Carrieres-sur-Seine, western France.
The poor dog had been tied to a bag of gravel and buried at a landfill site.
Pedro Dinis, the man who found the dog, quickly began digging to save it and called for veterinary help.
Local police later identified the owner as a 21-year-old man. He denied the abuse, claiming the dog had run away on its own.
However, the shocking act sparked outrage among animal lovers across France, with many signing a petition demanding legal punishment for the perpetrator. The man now faces up to 2 years in prison and a £20,000 fine.