Nick Carter's dog found and it's in Hernando

BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando County has a new celebrity in its midst: Backstreet Boy Nick Carter's dog, Layla.

And no, you can't go see her.

The pit bull mix was dropped off anonymously sometime between Thursday night and this morning at Hernando Animal Services.

The friendly light-brown and white pooch was found wagging her tail in one of the night drop cages the agency has for unwanted animals at its Oliver Street facility.

County Animal Services manager Liana Teauge said that a microchip in the dog's neck led them to a Los Angeles woman that Carter purchased Layla through. But that was as close to finding the owner as the Hernando crew could get.

So Teague went on the MJ Morning radio show, hoping to get a few leads.

"I guess it worked," she said.

While Carter's publicist Juliette Harris confirmed that the dog in Hernando is in fact Layla, Teague said she hadn't been able to confirm so as of Friday evening.

"We're working to confirm ownership, and we’ll keep her here until the proper owner comes to pick her up,” Teague said.

While the dog stays in Hernando for now, Teague said that the public would not be allowed to sneak a peek at Layla. (She received a number of calls Friday asking.)

"We have short hours and a short staff on Saturday and can't have that," she said.

--Chandra Broadwater, Times staff writer