Dog rescued after three days with head stuck in cheeseball bucket

A dog nicknamed “Cheeto” was rescued after wandering for three days with a container of cheeseballs stuck on its head — and he’s now looking for a permanent home, according to a Michigan animal shelter.

A good Samaritan picked up the emaciated dog, who had been without food or water while stuck in the plastic bucket, and brought him to the Last Stop Animal Rescue & Sanctuary in Carleton — about 35 miles southwest of Detroit, the Detroit Free Press first reported.

“This pup’s been out on the run — we don’t know how long — but we know he’s had the jug on his head for three days,” Tom Walsh, who owns the shelter with his wife, said on a Facebook video on Sunday.

“He was probably right down to the wire,” he added.

Cheeto, who appears to be a mix of a Great Pyrenees and German shepherd, was about 60-70 pounds underweight, Walsh said. He seems to still be young at an estimated 18 months old.

The sanctuary posted videos online showing the nervous dog when he first arrived at the shelter, clearly disoriented behind the fogged-up Utz Cheese Balls container covering his head but trusting of his rescuers.

Using a pair of hedge clippers, they were able to carefully slice off the container and free the dog, video shows.

“There he is!” Walsh exclaims. The shelter gave him food and water which he ravenously gulped down immediately. 

“He seems to be OK, now,” Walsh said later. “You can see his ribs, but he’s a great pup.”

The dog needed a name while he was going to be staying with the Walshes. Walsh suggested “Jughead” before they settled on Cheeto — an homage to the snack that got him stuck in the first place.

In a follow-up video post on Monday, the Walshes said Cheeto appears to know some basic commands like sit.

Much of his fur coat has been shredded and he may have a number of health issues he’s dealing with from worms to carbon monoxide poisoning, they said.

The rescue has launched a fundraiser to help cover Cheeto’s health costs while they look to find him a forever home.