Missing 3 Weeks, Forrest Reunited With Grassano's Pizza Owner

OAK LAWN, IL — After three weeks of “Run, Forrest, Run,” Gino and Cheryl Grassano’s fleet-footed fido is back home. Forrest was found Monday morning after he went missing on Sept. 26.

Gino and Cheryl own Grassano’s Pizza, 5651 W 87th St, Oak Lawn. Forrest was found all the way over at 79th Street and Western Avenue.

“We haven’t stopped looking for him for three weeks,” Cheryl said. “Gino has gone out looking for Forrest every day.”

Cheryl was out with her nephew looking at houses on Monday morning when she received a phone call from a college student who found Forrest.

“A kid called me and said, ‘ma’am, I got your dog’,” Cheryl explained.

At first Cheryl was hesitant. She received a few calls from scammers asking for the reward money Gino put up before they’d text a photo of the dog.

The college student had no problem immediately texting Cheryl a picture of Forrest sitting in his front seat.

“He saw a lady walking him and knew immediately that it was Forrest. She eventually admitted that she had found our dog and let him take him.”

The young man met Cheryl at the Oak Lawn police station where he handed over Forrest.

“He is our angel,” Cheryl said. “I told him ‘I’m your friend for life, I have your back.’ For him to do that for us is amazing.”

Forrest is the first dog the Grassanos’ have owned since their beloved Molly died 11 years ago. Like his famous namesake from the Academy Award-winning movie, Forrest was a runner. He got out of the yard three weeks ago and has been running ever since.

The Grassanos plastered pizza boxes with fliers telling people to be on the lookout for Forrest. A community-wide search spread across social media. Thousands combed lost dog sites, and shared photos of other found dogs with the Grassanos. Everyone wanted to help Gino -- the kindest man on earth -- find his dog.

Families reached out to the Cheryl and Gino, requesting pictures and fliers and walked the streets and parks, looking for Forrest.

“We created a movement and hashtags,” Cheryl said. “I told Gino ‘I will find your dog.’”

The Grassanos hope to meet the young man who found Forrest later this week. Meanwhile, Gino and Cheryl will get their first good night’s sleep in three weeks. Also, Forrest the Runner will be getting a chip with a GPS locator.

“We can’t thank everyone enough for their love and support,” Cheryl said.