WILLISTON - It was his whimpering that saved his life. Williston police were out destroying evidence per court orders thursday afternoon, near a pit area when they heard... From under the dirt they were able to dig out a puppy buried alive, 6 to 8 inches deep. Police Chief, Dennis Strow says the puppy couldn't have been buried for long before it was found. "Whoever buried him didn't compress the dirt and he's an active little fellow and I think doing this he created somewhat of a little hole, you know for air pocket for his head," he says.

The week old puppy whose eyes and ears were still shut was quickly taken to the Levy Animal Clinic, where Dr. Prine tells us he looked healthy and well fed. "He actually did not look that bad he had a lot of dirt and clay kind of kicked on him, on the back of his neck," she says.

The puppy has already been named Tucker and it already found a loving family. One of the vet techs here at the Levy Animal Clinic has adopted him and she says she's happy to take him home. Williston police say the act was definitely intentional. "This is just a cowardly despicable act, and somebody out there knows and I want them to call," Strow says.

Dr. Prine says, "Where this place is, it's kind of out in the middle of no where and you have to know where it is in order to get to it. So someone knows what they do back there I think and went out there and purposely did it because they probably thought they were going to get away with it."

Tucker is being well taken care of by his new owner and a $2,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this case of cruelty. Anyone with information is urged to contact the williston police department at 352-528-4991.