Battle Creek police are searching for the owner of a male Great Dane found this week in a Battle Creek storage unit.

Animal Control Officer Mike Ehart was called Tuesday to the U-Haul Moving and Storage Unit at 5740 Beckley Road after employees heard a dog barking inside a locked unit.

"This is the first time I have ever come across a dog in a storage unit," Ehart said Thursday. "The contract tells them they can't keep animals in the units."

Ehart could hear the dog barking but didn't believe it was in serious distress, he said, so he posted a 24-hour notice that the owner was in violation of the city's animal ordinance.

On Wednesday, Ehart returned and the dog was still inside the unit and so he obtained a search warrant and the removed the lock.

He said he found the harlequin Great Dane inside with some furniture but without food or water.

The dog was taken to the Calhoun County Animal Center at 165 S. Union St.

Manager Tom Buford said Thursday the dog is about 20 pounds underweight but otherwise in good health.

Ehart said they believe the owner of the dog may have been evicted from his home in Bedford Township but he had not been located by Thursday afternoon.

The owner could be charged with misdemeanor abandonment which carries a maximum penalty of 93 days in jail.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson