GARDENA, Calif. (KABC) — An abandoned puppy found whimpering inside a self-compacting trash can in Gardena was rescued by a police officer, who ended up adopting the dog on Christmas Eve.

That police officer happened to be walking by the trash can, which was outside of a local church, when he heard faint whimpers and cries, according to spcaLA.

When he opened the receptacle, the officer found a small, 1-year-old Terrier mix puppy inside. The dog, now known as Flan, had been thrown away like trash, spcaLA said.

The officer contacted Gardena Animal Control, and Flan was brought to spcaLA South Bay Adoption Center, where the dog was given food and medical care.

On Christmas Eve, the officer who rescued Flan brought his family to the adoption center and ended up adopting Flan and giving him a forever home.

SpcaLA said there were security cameras present outside the church where the trash can was located, but that footage was not released to police.

California Dog Abandoned in Compactor Trash Can Finds Home on Christmas Eve with a Familiar Friend

The dog was ‘whimpering and shaking,’ said the police officer who helped rescue the dog

A stray, small dog went from dumped in the trash to a home for the holidays.

Days before Christmas, a police officer walking in Gardena, Calif., heard “faint whimpers and cries” that seemed to be coming from a compactor trash can on Normandy Avenue, according to an announcement from SPCA LA and the Los Angeles Times. When he opened the trash receptacle, Sgt. Nick Beerling discovered a “small, scared dog” inside.

He believes someone abandoned the dog, throwing the pup into the compactor trash can, which uses a hydraulic ram, powered by solar panels, to compact trash inside the bin.

Beerling discovered the terrier mix pup “sitting on top of the trash, just kind of whimpering and shaking, looking for help,” he told NBC Los Angeles.

The dog was successfully rescued from the trash can by Gardena Animal Control, per ABC 7, and was then taken to the SPCA LA South Bay Pet Adoption Center for care. There, Flan stayed for a mandatory stray hold, per the shelter.

Even though the abandoned canine was safe and sound, Beerling couldn’t get the dog out of his mind, and on Christmas Eve, he brought his family to the shelter to officially adopt the pup.

“The girls and I have been trying to convince him to get another pet for a while, and he hasn’t wanted to commit,” a family member told NBC Los Angeles. “But this little guy just tugged on his heart.”

The 1-year-old pup was initially named Flan by the SPCA LA staff — because his fur resembled the dessert, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, when he officially joined Beerling’s family, the dog received a new name, Norm — an homage to the street on which he was found, per NBC Los Angeles.

The Beerling residence already has a Shih Tzu, according to the Los Angeles Times, so Norm will have a sibling for company as well.

Although there were security cameras outside a church near the trash can where the dog was left, the footage was not released to the police, per SPCA LA.

“Despite this, Flan’s resilience and the officer’s quick actions have turned a tragic situation into a happy ending,” the shelter wrote.