Milford Police Adopt Senior Stray Lil Craig, Give Dog Station Home

Lil Craig, a senior mixed-breed found alone on a Milford porch, now has a permanent home at the Milford Police Department after officers rescued him from subzero conditions and adopted him following a week at the county shelter. The dog was discovered on Feb. 1 on Cassidy Blackburn’s deck near Maple and Old Plank roads in Milford Township and was taken to the station that night to warm up.

Cassidy Blackburn, who found the dog after her own dogs alerted her to movement outside, described the moment: "I look out the window and see this black shadow cut across my deck and I am like oh my gosh." Blackburn told WXYZ the dog had no tags or microchip and was sitting outdoors during a bitter cold night when officers arrived.

Milford officers warmed the dog at the station the night he was found, then turned him over to county animal services as coverage varies on timing. Oakland Press reports he spent the night at the station and was turned over to the Oakland County Animal Shelter the next morning, while WXYZ and other outlets describe officers turning him over to Oakland County Animal Control after a few days. The dog spent about a week at the county intake facility while the department monitored the search for an owner.

When no claimant surfaced after the shelter hold, the Milford Police Department decided to adopt him. Oakland Press reports the department officially adopted the dog as of Feb. 11. The department’s social media post, shared publicly on Feb. 18, framed the decision as giving the dog a stable future rather than leaving him to chance; the MPD statement said, "The doc tells us he's around 9 years old, missing a few teeth, one of his ears won't stand up, and he doesn't hear very well, but we're going to give this old guy the best home we can."

Lt. Ed Pilch described the dog’s condition and the department’s response in local coverage, saying he "stunk to high heaven, was missing teeth and had a few other medical problems." Pilch told WXYZ, "He warmed some hearts and we didn't want to see him in a bad position." Oakland Press also quoted Pilch as saying, "There was no way this dog was going to get euthanized."

Since adoption, Lil Craig has received veterinary and dental care at a local clinic and is being treated for a cold, according to WXYZ and Oakland Press. The department reports he underwent several medical and dental procedures and has adjusted to station life, roaming hallways and greeting visitors. Blackburn noted the community response and daily visitors, saying, "He's got people that come and visit him every day. He is so sweet."

Photos credited to the Milford Police Department show Detective Andrew Conner, Lt. Ed Pilch and Detective Sgt. Dan Caldwell with Lil Craig, and WXYZ aired bodycam footage and a Peter Maxwell report documenting the rescue and adoption. For now, Lil Craig remains a full-time fixture at the Milford station, receiving care, visits and steady supervision from officers who stepped in when a stray senior dog needed a second chance.