Heartbroken Bridgehampton Family Searches for Dog, Catcher, Who Needs Medical Help

A Bridgehampton family is broken-hearted after their dog, Catcher, 9, went missing on Friday.

According to Susan DePaquale, 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. He is also a noisy breather, she said.

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; they also tried to speak with the neighbors but details remain unclear about what transpired, she said.

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 has 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.

With his protruding tongue, “He’s hard to mistake,” DePasquale said. “He looks like a Dr. Seuss character.”

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.”

A reward has been offered for information leading to Catcher being found and brought home.

To whoever may have taken him, DePasquale said, “Thank you for doing such a good deed and taking care of him, but we need our dog back.”

Catcher, she added, needs to see a vet. He’s in need of a surgical procedure that will cost thousands of dollars, and must see a vet as soon as possible.

Anyone with information is asked to call either 631-871-3708 or 631-838-2620.