Singer's pooch stuck in shelter

Nick Carter's staff is working overtime to free his dog from the pound.

By BY CHANDRA BROADWATER Times Staff Writer
Published September 1, 2007

BY CHANDRA BROADWATER

Times Staff Writer

BROOKSVILLE - Yes, the Backstreet Boys are reuniting, but a new question has fans of singer Nick Carter breathless: Will he ever see his dog again?

Layla, a pit bullterrier mix that starred alongside her pop star owner in the reality TV series The House of Carters, was dropped off anonymously this week at Hernando Animal Services.

Wearing a worn leather collar with metal studs and no identification, 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 or strays at its Oliver Street facility.

"She's really a nice dog," said county Animal Services manager Liana Teague.

Carter's Los Angeles publicist, Juliette Harris, said Friday evening that she and others in her office have been working nonstop to find a way to get Layla reunited with the 27-year-old singer.

Teague said a microchip in the dog's neck led them to a Los Angeles woman from whom Carter had purchased Layla. But that was as close to finding the owner as the Hernando workers could get.

So Teague called the MJ Morning radio show on WFLZ-FM 93.3 in Tampa, hoping to get a few leads. "I guess it worked," she said. "People have called from Inside Edition."

On Friday evening, Harris confirmed that the dog in Hernando is in fact the Layla in question. "It's Nick's dog," Harris said.

While the dog stays in Hernando for now, Teague said fans would not be allowed to sneak a peek at Layla.

[Last modified September 1, 2007, 00:52:09]