Michigan Shelter Seeking Answers After Finding Dog Tied to 'Do Not Abandon an Animal Here' Sign

Harbor Humane Society is looking for information about the small dog who was left outside the shelter overnight

A dog in Michigan was left alone for nearly 11 hours, tied to a sign outside an animal shelter that reads "Do Not Abandon An Animal Here."

Now, the shelter is seeking answers from the public — and the pet's former owner — to determine how best to care for the canine.

On April 9, Harbor Humane Society in West Olive, Michigan, revealed on Facebook that a woman left a dog tied to an old sign in the back of its shelter overnight.

"Situations like this occur at least a dozen times a year here. Nationwide, I would say it can be a daily occurrence at some shelters," the organization's executive director, Jen Self Aulgur, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, adding that the shelter is now "just left to guess" about the pup's history.

According to Aulgur, the canine is around 3-4 years old, but nobody knows "her story, her name, her likes, her favorite treats or toys" — information that an owner would typically share when properly surrendering a pet at the shelter during business hours.

Related: Loose Dog Jumps into Police Car with 'Please Help' Note Attached to Her Collar

Shelter employees discovered the pup on April 10 around 7:30 a.m., nearly 11 hours after surveillance footage showed a woman leaving her dog there around 9:05 p.m. the previous night.

The chihuahua mix was left toward the back of the shelter, tied up near its intake door. While she was nervous and scared —and barked at the employee who found her — the pup eventually warmed up to her new friends and has been friendly and playful since, per Harbor Humane.

The sign itself, according to the shelter, is outdated and located in the back of the shelter. The old sign reads that fees are associated with surrendering an animal, but that is no longer the case — as evidenced by a new sign in the front of the location.

"We know there is a lot of reasons people can't keep their pets. But please, do not tie your pet overnight at a shelter," the Facebook post read. "This pup deserves to have her story and history known. We do not want to shame or get you in trouble—we just want to help this poor pup."

Related: Partially Blind Dog Finds Loving Home After Being Abandoned Twice: 'He Is the Sweetest and Most Loving'

According to Harbor Humane, the young dog is a "sweet, cuddly, funny little girl" who enjoys playing with the shelter's staff. However, she's still "confused" and "would much prefer to be with her people."

The dog will be up for adoption after her state-required 7-day stray hold is completed.

Harbor Humane Society's marketing director Jen Nurenberg shared in a statement with PEOPLE that the organization "offers a multitude of programs to help keep pets in homes, and pets and people together" — including through its intake diversion program, a pet food pantry and opportunities for "low-cost" vaccinations and neuterings. Nurenberg also notes that many other shelters and rescues in the U.S. have programs that offer assistance to struggling pet owners.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"In this case, we didn't get the chance to talk with the potential owner to see if there was anything that we could do to help the animal stay in her home," Nuernberg said.

Harbor Humane encourages the owner or anyone with information about the chihuahua mix to get in touch with the shelter.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.