Sometimes animals come into our lives in the most unexpected ways, and we know it’s meant to be.

Recently, members of a clean-up crew discovered a dog abandoned in the trash… and one of them went above-and-beyond to give him a great new life.

According to a Facebook post from the Missouri Department of Conservation, a crew consisting of Missouri Stream Teams, Beyond Housing and citizens from a Tiered Community were scouting locations for a clean-up on March 19, when they came across something unexpected in the trash.

A tiny puppy had been abandoned in the trash pile, tied up in a black plastic garbage bag. It was heartbreaking that anyone would leave a dog for dead like this, but a miracle he was discovered in time.

One member of the crew was particularly struck by the abandoned pup: Stream Team Coordinator Brian Waldrop.

“I was just down on my knees, picked it up, and fell instantly in love,” Brian recalled to FOX 2 St. Louis.

It was the first time he had come across a dog in a trash pile. While their meeting was unexpected and unusual, Brian knew it was meant to be and agreed to take the puppy home himself for good!

He says he gave the dog a wash when they got home: the dog’s initial yellow coloring faded away to reveal a beautiful white coat.

“He is just… what a great personality, and he is so soft,” Brian said.

Brian told FOX 2 that he hadn’t settled on a name for the dog. While some have suggested garbage-themed names like “Hefty,” he has been calling him “Dude.”

It’s heartbreaking that anyone would abandon a puppy like this, but we’re so glad everything worked out and he has a great, loving new home! Thank you to Brian for taking this pup in!