Search On For Missing Dog, Chef, In Greenport

GREENPORT, NY — A heartbroken man is searching desperately for his lost dog Chef, who went missing in Greenport Saturday.

According to John DeNapoli, who lives in St. Petersburg, FL but has been in Greenport visiting with friends Hank Hintze and Rick Rempe, Chef ran off on Pipes Neck Road, near Route 25 and Chapel Lane.

Chef is a five-year-old wire-haired terrier mix. Although there was a sighting of Chef Tuesday morning near the Greenport 7-Eleven, DeNapoli has not been able to find him and bring him home.

"He's very shy and timid," DeNapoli said. "He's running scared." Anyone who sees Chef should not chase him, he said.

In fact, when DeNapoli first spotted him, the dog was running at full speed and he wasn't able to catch him. DeNapoli's greatest fear is that he'll be hit by a car while crossing Route 25, he said.

When he first adopted Chef four years ago, the dog was shaking and afraid of everyone, DeNapoli said.

"I brought him to my home in St. Petersburg and spent a lot of time with him, holding him, showing him love," he said.

Chef is close as family, he said.

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

DeNapoli even brought Chef on the plane with him for his visit to New York; he traveled north for a funeral, he said.

His entire family is devastated, DeNapoli said. "I walked in the door and my grandson, two-and-a-half, said, 'Pops, where's Chef?' I was tearing up."

DeNapoli, who has been out searching night and day with his lifelong friends, has been in touch with tracker Teddy Henn, who will head out to Greenport Wednesday to help.

DeNapoli wanted to thank the outpouring of support from the community. "Everyone has been
so kind. I can't thank everyone enough."