Lost Dog, Chef, Found Safe; Owner Says 'Thank You' To Community

GREENPORT, NY — It was a sweet reunion when a lost dog, Chef, was reunited with his owner in Greenport Wednesday.

John DeNapoli, who lives in Florida but was in Greenport for a funeral, said Chef went missing Saturday.

Wednesday night, Southold Town Police Officer Greg Sanders and tracker Teddy Henn of Long Island Lost Dog Search and Rescue found Chef on 3rd Street Central Avenue, not far from the Greenport Fire Department.

"I had Chef in the back of Officer Sanders' cruiser, just blocks away from the funeral we attended for our dear friend, cousin, and uncle Mike Mitchell, who passed away unexpectedly," DeNapoli said.

Of finding his beloved pup, DeNapoli said: "It's amazing. I sat in the back of the police cruiser, held him gently, cried with happiness and relief, and calmed him down —massaging him and showing him the love he so deserved."

DeNapoli thanked the many in Greenport who turned out to help, as well as Henn and Lynn Fodale of Long Island Lost Dog Search and Rescue; Lynn, he said, coached him during the search.

He also thanked the Hintze and Rempe families, friends, "and the wonderful community of Greenport who were so generous with their time in helping with the search and their heartfelt prayers."

On Thursday, DeNapoli took Chef to the vet and then the dog groomer.

"It was an amazing, amazing night," he said.

Chef, a five-year-old wire-haired terrier mix, had run off on Pipes Neck Road, near Route 25 and Chapel Lane.

When he first adopted Chef four years ago, the dog was shaking and afraid of everyone, DeNapoli said. Now, Chef is close as family, he added.

"He's just everything to me. He's a great friend. He's incredibly loyal," he said.