Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 17 (IANS): As the story of a homeless boy and his dog went viral on social media, several families have come forward to adopt the child.

Mohammad Mushfakeen, chief officer in the child and women welfare department, said, "After coming to know that the boy was under the care of the district police, we have taken him under our observation. He is now staying at a shelter home and is being counselled. Some families have approached us and are keen to adopt the child. We can give him to such a family under the policy of the government, called foster care, but first, we have to trace his family."

The child, who is around nine years old, is being counselled by the Child Welfare Committee, and the administration is making all efforts to bring him into the mainstream.

The police department is planning to admit him into the Modern Police School, as private institutions are reluctant to give admission to the boy who has never been to school.

Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Abhishek Yadav, has asked SHO Anil Kaparwan to admit the boy into the Modern Police School, if no one comes to help him.

The boy, Ankit, does not remember where he belongs to, except the fact that his father is in jail, and that his mother has abandoned him. He has been surviving by working at tea stalls and on selling balloons.

He sleeps on the footpath with his friend -- Danny, a dog, who stays with him always. He uses his earnings to feed himself and his pet dog.

Ankit made news when someone clicked his photograph, sleeping on a pavement with his dog and sharing a blanket with the pet.

After the photograph went viral on social media, Muzaffarnagar SSP tracked down the boy and took him under his care.