(AP) — The Nebraska Humane Society says a man’s story about finding a small dog inside a trash bag was a load of garbage.

The 28-year-old man showed up at the Humane Society’s Omaha shelter Friday, saying he found the black terrier mix in a tied trash bag.

But by Saturday, Humane Society officials had learned the man owned the dog. When questioned, the man admitted to making up the story. Officials say the man wanted to give up the dog because of housetraining problems, but feared he would have to pay a fee to surrender it or for not having it licensed.

The man has been cited for lying about how he came into possession of an animal.

The shelter does not charge a fee for surrendering animals.