This is the heart-warming moment a tiny puppy was rescued from a pile of rubbish after being dumped in a bin lorry.

Workers were sorting through the trash after it had been unloaded at the depot when they heard desperate whimpers coming from under the stinking garbage.

Truck driver Fernando Marie suspected there was something inside - and pawed through the mountains of waste to reach the stranded pooch.

Footage captures the amazing moment the female puppy emerged from the mess and scampered away onto the wet ground in Montevideo, Uruguay, on August 25 at 5pm.

Staff member Fernando Marie has now adopted the lucky little dog - which he has named Bonita, meaning 'pretty'. He believes she could have suffocated had she not been found.

Fernando said: ''It was sobbing. We thought it was even worse, that it could have been a human baby. You can find anything imaginable here but this is the first time we have found a puppy.

''We work all day up to our knees in mud. We never thought someone could be so cruel to throw away an animal like this.''

Fernando took the puppy home with him and adopted her. She will be raised by one of Fernando's family members.

The animal is in good health but Fernando slammed the owners who dumped him in the truck.

He said: ''You must be a really bad person to throw out this beautiful little dog.

''She is now healthy and strong and enjoying her new warm home. We have named her Bonita. She's in good hands now.''