I think I know what this was.
I found a dog's paw once by the railroad tracks.
Well this week alone I saw a sofa in the middle of the highway and an enormous package of red solo cups in a parking lot. I also found a $20 bill in the brush not too long ago walking the dog.
Just remembered, twice I've seen used hypodermic needles - once at a baseball field and once in somone's yard as I was sitting at a red light, both around the same area.