Danvers Couple Gets Early Christmas Present

Christopher and Danielle Restaino of Berry Street had just adopted Gracie, a Lab mix puppy from Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption two days before Gracie got loose on Tuesday in the Plains Park, Back Bay area of Danvers.

“She just bolted out of the door,” Danielle Restaino said.

Being a brand new rescue, Gracie, 10-months-old, was timid and scared, and ran away. For over two hours they searched the neighborhood with word of sightings, but unable to catch her.

The couple was beyond worried because the couple - and the house - were still new to the puppy.

“We had just rescued her,” Danielle Restaino said. She said the puppy had already been through a bad situation, and had been in-and-out of two foster homes. “She doesn’t know we’re ‘home’ yet.”

Danielle Restaino turned to Facebook for help. Immediately, social media action began. Granite State Dog Recovery, Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption, Danvers Animal Hospital, High Street Vet Services, Danvers, Peabody and Beverly police departments were all posted the missing puppy’s picture. Others jumped on board, sharing the posts and missing dog’s information.

“People are so busy this time of year; people are working,” Danielle Restaino said. “People just stopped what they were doing to help. I was so humbled, so impressed by the outpouring.”

By that evening 17-pound Gracie still hadn’t been found.

But this is where the Christmas miracle comes in the Restaino’s said.

Volunteers from Lucky Lab Rescue teams, Granite State Dog Recovery teams, and countless others combed the neighborhood where Gracie was last seen. The Danvers Police Department included Gracie on their roll call for patrol to be aware of and a trapper was sent out. While some knew the family whose dog was missing, most did not. It was hard to miss the activity in the neighborhood, because there was a volunteer on every street calling her name, squeaking dog toys, carrying treats, or crawling slowly down the roads in their cars.

Finally, about 8 Tuesday night, Christopher Restaino and the couple’s other dog, Sadie, found the puppy cowering behind lattice fence around a porch under someone’s house. With the help of Danielle Restaino and another volunteer they were able to get her out from under the porch.

Facebook, volunteers and all agencies erupted with happiness at the news, Danielle Restaino said. The couple turned to social media to spread the word that Gracie had been found, and to thank everyone who volunteered that day.

“Christmas is a time of gathering with family and friends. A time to stop and reflect on those or something that made a difference in your life. For our family we experienced that yesterday, when our new dog got loose in the morning. Throughout the day countless people called or posted tips on our little pooch. The clincher for us was when groups of people last night put aside their evening after working all day to search for our pooch. At one count 40 people!! These actions are what Christmas is about... selflessness! Thank you all. Merry Christmas from Restaino Property Services.” - Christopher Restaino posted on Facebook.

Danielle Restaino said Gracie will not be able to escape again. The couple put up a locked gate blocking off the mud room before the back door.

“We call it Cell Block 1,” Danielle Restaino said. Kidding aside, she said the couple is still blown away by the genuine outpouring from the community. “Finding Gracie was an early Christmas gift.”

Photos: Danielle Restaino