New home for dog found in trash bag

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DETROIT, May 25 (UPI) -- Officials with the Michigan Humane Society in Detroit said a 2-year-old beagle found abandoned in a sealed trash bag has found a new home.

Kevin Hatman, a spokesman for the Humane Society, said the dog was found earlier this month in a sealed garbage bag on Detroit's east side and investigators suspect she may have been in the bag for several days, the Detroit Free Press reported Friday.

Deborah MacDonald, chief cruelty investigator with the Humane Society, named the dog Gladys because the canine's powerful voice reminded her of singer Gladys McKnight.

Hatman told the Free Press many people applied to adopt Gladys when her story was made public and officials decided on Stephanie Elliott, 27, of Livonia.

"Our main concern, of course, was to provide Gladys with a good home, and Stephanie was someone who really stood out," Hatman said. "Beagles are a breed that require a lot of special attention, and Stephanie has had plenty of experience in raising them."

Elliot said Gladys' story touched her heart and she knew she had to make the canine a member of her family.

"To be honest, I didn't think I had a chance," she said of applying for the adoption. "Now I just feel so fortunate. I know we're going to be a good match."

Authorities are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for abandoning Gladys.