RICHLAND, MI -- Other than the 10 pounds she needs to gain, it's hard to tell that Baby Girl, a stray dog from Richland who was recently rescued, had been living on the streets for the past 3 years.

“It’s interesting how quickly she is getting acclimated,” Julie Baker, director of the Richland Animal Rescue, said. “She is eating well and feeling good about her situation. It’s just going to take a little bit of time to reprogram her mind that she doesn’t have as much to worry about.”

Baker, who is currently fostering Baby Girl, said she is house-broken, can sit on command and walks well on a leash.

“These dogs are amazing,” Baker said. “They are so intelligent and well-mannered.”

Baby Girl, believed to be a pit bull terrier mix, has been a familiar sight around Richland for almost three years, and while she took food, water and shelter from area businesses and individuals during that time, she had evaded capture.

It wasn't until Dec. 22, when retired veterinarian Robert Nash noticed Baby Girl huddled in a doorway of an area business, that she allowed herself to be caught. Nash called his son-in-law and daughter, Dan and Amy Libey of Richland, to come help him, and they took her to their home until they could find a rescue to take her in.

Baker said a veterinarian has estimated Baby Girl’s age to be 3 or 4 years old, and she is awaiting the results of a blood test taken on Christmas Eve to find out if she has heart worms or Lyme disease.

“She has done really well,” Baker said. “She’ll be in a home pretty quickly.”

Baker said she has introduced Baby Girl to another rescue dog in her home named Henry. It was no surprise to Baker that the two got along instantly.

“That’s how everyone in town kind of got to know her because she would come and visit their dogs,” Baker said.

Baker said she has already begun to receive calls inquiring about the newly rescued dog’s adoption, but it’s going to be entirely up to Baby Girl to let Baker know when she is ready.

“It depends on her,” Baker said. “As soon as she feels comfortable, she’ll be ready.”

Baker said she is continually impressed by Baby Girl’s ability to adjust to her situation and that when she is ready, she is going to make someone a very loyal companion.

“She’s ready to bond with someone,” Baker said. “They (the breed) are really emotionally connected to people. They bond really closely with people.”

Theresa Ghiloni is a reporter at MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact her at tghiloni@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter