UTICA - The Stevens Swan Humane Society took in a small dog this morning that was left out in the cold. Now the shelter is looking for its owner, or any information about the dog.

The staff at Stevens Swan says the small poodle was found stranded on the side of the road inside a hand bag. The dog now seems to be fine, but the shelter is looking for some answers.

The small dog, a possible poodle-mix, was found in a hand bag on Whitesboro Street. The man who brought the dog in says he was driving and noticed the bag moving on the side of the road.

The staff says they aren't sure if the dog was meant to be abandoned or if it was an accident.

"If you do own the dog, we need to see proof of ownership of the dog, which means we need to see rabies vaccination tags, that kind of thing," said Kathy Contino-Turner of the Humane Society. "We will keep him for five days and if no one claims her she will be up for adoption."

Since tonight will be bitter cold, the Humane Society has offered some tips to help keep your pets safe:

*Provide outdoor pets with a dry insulated pet house. In fact, shelter officials suggest bringing them in tonight even if its just the garage.

*Clean up all the spills, especially in the driveway where anti-freeze could leak.

*Pets that are used to being indoors need to have their beds elevated off the floor.

*Cats often nap on car engines, so before you start your car, knock on your hood or honk your horn. Then wait a few minutes before starting the car.

As for the abandoned poodle, he saw the doctor on staff at the shelter, and seems to be in good health.

If you have any information you can call the Humane Society at 738-4357