A little dog found injured in a dumpster was reunited with its owner in Cowlitz County.

Humane Society director Rick Johnson said someone found the long-haired Dachshund named ‘Awesome’ near the Willow Grove boat launch after hearing it whimpering Monday afternoon.

Johnson said it was unclear how the dog got hurt, someone may have kicked the dog and went into shock, but Humane Society officials were still investigating.

Awesome had a broken tooth, broken nose, and severe swelling.

Owner Mary Malthaupt read about the dog Monday in a local paper and realized it was hers. Malthaupt said Awesome was a “runner” and prone to sometimes getting away from home.

But it was unknown how Awesome got so far.

“From where the owners live and where the dog was found by is got to be like almost eight-and-a-half miles,” Johnson said.

Humane Society vets nursed Awesome back to health, and Malthaupt was reunited with her pet. But vets wanted to keep the dog overnight Thursday for observation before it goes home.

There were no suspects in the case and so far police had not become involved.