.
>> “I could easily see a back story about how that he got separated and why the owner hadn’t yet found him. Maybe an elderly person with limited ability to search. Someone has to recognize him.” <<
BINGO!
This story seems rather boldly unhinged to me.
Why would this fire fighter feel empowered to do this?
.
Hmmmmmmmm, maybe he likes dogs and felt sorry for this one?.....Nah, there's gotta be another insidious reason.
Read the article.
The fire fighter initially to the dog to the animal shelter, so someone can claim him, but after a few days nobody claimed him, so the shelter called the firefighter and he decided to adopt him.