Good Samaritan Brings Missing Dog, Catcher, Home to Grateful Family

SOUTHAMPTON, NY-A Bridgehampton family was overjoyed last night when their dog, Catcher, 9, who had been missing since Friday, was brought home safe and sound by a Good Samaritan from Shelter Island.

The story touched hearts across the East End, as Susan and James DePasquale searched desperately for their beloved pet, turning to social media and Patch to help spread the word.

On Monday night after the snowstorm, the family got the happiest of endings, as their precious Catcher was returned home by a huge-hearted Good Samaritan.

“A kind man living on Shelter Island saw him and thought he was lost,” Susan DePasquale told Patch early Tuesday morning. When he spotted Catcher, “He was in a hurry and could not canvass the neighborhood. He saw the Facebook posts when his mother alerted him. He called immediately last night and we met him and his kids, who had taken very good care of Catcher. So amazing and wonderful!”

Catcher, a six-pound chihuahua who’s black, white and sandy brown, with big bat ears, long, furry hair and a tongue that protrudes to the left, an inch out of his mouth, disappeared after Friday’s snow.

Her husband James was out shoveling at their Lumber Lane home, DePasquale said, and Catcher headed down the driveway and the road a bit, as he usually does, to visit with some Pomeranians.

Sometime between 3 p.m. and 3:20, a small dark car pulled up and spoke with some neighbors shoveling next door, DePasqale said. Although the conversation was in Spanish, DePasquale said it’s possible the person in the car may have asked the men if the dog was theirs.

The person then appeared to take Catcher into the car and drive off, DePasquale said.

The couple called Southampton Town Police and filed a report. It was urgent that Catcher be found because he’s in need of a surgical procedure that will cost thousands of dollars, and must see a vet as soon as possible.

Since the car seemed to be headed toward Southampton, DePasquale went searching, looking at similar vehicles and peering into cars, hoping to find her beloved dog.

The couple called all shelters, and contacted the local radio station, in the hope of spreading the word that Catcher has medical issues, including a partial trachael collapse, not uncommon in small dogs.

The dog has lived with their family since he was brought home from Maine nine years ago and is deeply loved.

“He’s very friendly,” DePaquale said. “He’s not yappy. He’s been raised with big dogs. His best friend is a 100-lb. bernese mountain dog.”

To the family’s Good Samaritan, DePasquale said, “Thank you for doing such a good deed and taking care of him.”