AUBURN — A dog found tied to a post at the Lake Auburn boat launch Tuesday morning was being treated later in the day at the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston.

The female Shih Tzu, abandoned in the drizzle with a note scribbled on cardboard, was wet and cold when it was found, but was expected to recover completely.

The mystery of its appearance at the boat launch on  Route 4 lingered throughout the day.

According to Animal Control Officer Wendell Strout, the only clue as to how the dog got there was a brief note that appeared to have been written by a child.

“Pleasse take me home. My no is Goldy. I am good with kids.”

Strout and others were hoping to track down the original owner. For starters, Goldy appeared to suffer from an allergy that caused it to lose hair. Determining what type of allergy would help in the treatment.

“She’s a friendly dog,” Strout said. “But she needs some help.”

At the Humane Society in Lewiston, staffers were watching over the dog. They said when Goldy first arrived, there were signs that its previous treatment was not so great.

“She had a lot of fleas,” said Senior Animal Technician Zack Black. “Her nails were long and she has a urinary tract infection. She was peeing blood.”

She was also cold. Strout did not know how long she had been tied to the post on a cool morning in the rain.

By late afternoon, Goldy appeared to be settling in at the shelter. As Black carried her around in a blanket, her brown eyes looked everywhere. The Shih Tzu appeared more curious than afraid.

“She’s cute,” said Donna Kincer, development director at the shelter. “We’ll keep her for a little bit and try to figure out what her allergies are.”

Black said the dog will remain under observation for seven days, a period in which they will treat her health woes and try to explore her background.

Strout said any information about Goldy’s history would help. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police department, the Humane Society or Strout directly at 513-3111.