Naugatuck Patch Readers Help Get Lost Dog Back Home

Naugatuck, CT - Just before 9:00pm on the evening of July 4th, Alj Acosta contacted Naugatuck Patch for some help.

The first message read “Hi I need help posting a picture of my dog, who came out of the house and got lost. Can anyone help me post a picture….please.”

When Naugatuck Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis requested that she immediately send the photo and a contact number, Ms. Acosta responded with her cell phone number and “Someone took him from my house. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it….Thanks for sharing, we are heartbroken. (crying emoji)”

Immediately after the Patch Mayor posted two of the photos that were sent, Patch readers began to share the plea for help.

The dog’s owner, who recently moved to Horton Hill Road, posted: “SHARE PLEASE he’s our baby, I have 4 kids and he’s our baby. If anyone knows something, please call me, thank you so much.. really appreciate it I am new in this town. Really appreciate it.”

Soon after, Sheryl Jayne Socha posted: “A lady on Horton Hill/Morning Dove was trying to find the owner of this dog approx 7pm and was asking around who the dog belonged [to], she was on the phone so hopefully was contacting animal control. I posted it on the ‘What’s happening in Naugatuck’ fb page earlier.”

Ms. Socha added: “Have you tried contacting Naugatuck animal control? This was approx 7pm this evening, the dog was shaking, had no collar or tag. She took the dog with her. The lady did seem very concerned.”

Another Patch reader suggested: "Call Naugatuck police non emergency number, report your dog missing, it will be on record. Then if someone calls saying they found your dog, they can connect you."

Ms. Socha agreed that the owner contact local police and animal control and added, ‘The lady was trying to find the owner but was unsuccessful so took the dog with her. I believe it was just [wandering] the street.”

After sharing a screenshot of the What’s Happening In Naugatuck post, the relieved dog’s owner posted a message to Ms, Socha: “Sheryl Jayne Socha Thank you so much I appreciate it, I [sent] her a text and [will] try to call her.”

Some Patch readers complained that the original post was misleading when it mentioned that the dog had been taken.

The Naugatuck Patch Mayor cleared up this misconception with an additional post: “In her second message to Naugatuck Patch, the owner wrote "Someone took him from my house," although the first indicated that he had gotten out and gotten lost. She must have been very upset when she sent the messages.”

Ms. Acosta responded with this apology: "Naugatuck Patch I am sorry and I apologize, my dog got out, and I heard someone had him. I was going crazy in that moment and that’s why I said that. But now I know what happened."

Early Friday morning, Stacey Engel Carroll posted this message to her Facebook friend Angela Guardiano. “Is this the dog you found on Horton Hill this morning?” to which the long-time Horton Hill area resident responded , “yep! And he is now home (smile emoji)"

Ms Carroll congratulated her Facebook friend Ms. Guardiano. "Great job my friend! Facebook friend Ruth Arotsky added: “Angela Guardiano, you’re an angel for taking care of this dog and making sure he found his way home."

UPDATE from the owner: "Thank you to everyone who shared the post, who commented and who helped in any way. thank you to Naugatuck Patch and especially to the person who found my dog and keep him safe, thank you for bringing him home, with his family. thank you all, blessed day"

Via text message this morning, Ms. Acosta indicated to the Naugatuck Patch Mayor that she had recently posted that the dog was home. “Someone [brought] him. Thank you so much and your page. I couldn’t have done it without you. Really appreciate it.”

When Naugatuck Patch shared with Ms. Acosta what a wonderful woman Ms. Gardino is, the dog’s owner agreed. “Omg yes she is. I am so happy she found him, I am very grateful...It’s the first time he got out and [started wandering] around. Thank God she found him and thank you so much and to everyone who [helped.]"

Ms. Acosta shared this morning that the adorable dog’s name is Toby.

Click here to read about Naugatuck Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis.