The non-profit animal rescue group received a call from a teacher at Ronald Brown Academy on Detroit’s east side about a puppy that a child had left outside the school in a box with a note on it on Dec. 7, Detroit Pit Crew director and founder Theresa Sumpter said.

The puppy, Snowflake, came inside a box with a blanket, food, holes for breathing, and a note that read (punctuation for clarity):

“Sorry it didn’t have a home and it was cold so we’re going to give it to you. Please do let it go (sic) find it a nice home — thank you.”

Snowflake, who is about 7-and-a-half weeks old and pending adoption, is in good condition and remains attached to the box, Sumpter said. She said they’re calling Snowflake “Heinz 57 Detroit Special” because she appears to be a mix of several different breeds: bully, chow, and terrier, possibly.

Sumpter said that the Pit Crew’s volume doubles when it gets cold in Michigan because every dog is “pretty much urgent,” and that over the last two weeks they’ve rescued 29 dogs and a goose. The goose, which was rescued in Highland Park, didn’t survive, Sumpter said.  

“We don’t really work with owned dogs very often, so our volume increases because when people see strays out in this weather, they know that they’re in immediate danger and they do call us,” Sumpter said.