Lost Dog, Cisco, Found Safe Just Before LI Snowstorm

WEST ISLIP, NY — A dog who went missing in West Islip Sunday had a joyful homecoming Wednesday thanks to the love of his caring family and a community that searched tirelessly until he was found.

Former Patch editor Greg Sleter said he and his son Dylan, 21, brought their dog Cisco to PetSmart in North Babylon Sunday; Cisco had been to the store often for grooming and lessons and was familiar with the staff, Sleter said.

"They're great and they love him," he added.

But on Sunday, something spooked Cisco, who managed somehow to slip out of his harness. "He just bolted," Sleter said. "I immediately gave chase, but he's a thoroughbred and I'm a 50-year old man."

Cisco, a terrier-pit bull mix adopted from the North Shore Animal League America three years ago, took off like a shot across Rt. 231, a busy thoroughfare even on a Sunday morning.

"Amazingly, people were stopping — he stopped traffic," Sleter said. He and his son, as well as staff from PetSmart, all jumped into cars to try and stop the runaway pup. Cisco crossed over Deer Park Ave. and was heading south toward home. Then, in another terrifying move, he headed across the Southern State Parkway, Sleter said.

"And that's how I lost him," he said. "He was that fast."

To make it even more difficult to find him, Cisco's collar had been removed for grooming, Sleter said.

When Cisco ran off, Sleter was terrified. "I was chasing him and my concern was that there were cars everywhere. It's a busy shopping center with a Wendy's and a Starbuck's. I kept thinking, 'It's busy; he's going to get hit.'"

As Cisco approached Rt. 231, Sleter's dread intensified. "I thought, 'No way in hell is this dog getting across the street.'" And then when he managed, as he ran toward the Southern State, Sleter was afraid he'd head onto the highway.

"I was in shock, I was scared, I was upset. It was a whole host of emotions. It went from a normal, everyday Sunday morning — to thinking, 'Am I ever going to see him again?'"

Part of the agony was an overwhelming sense of guilt, Sleter said. "People said, 'Don't feel guilty,' but I was the one on the end of that leash. I couldn’t help but feel guilty. It was me."

Cisco is a shy dog — it takes him a while to trust someone— so Sleter wasn't afraid that he'd off with a stranger. But he's sturdy and strong, and not easy to catch, he said.

Soon after, Sleter got a call from someone who'd spotted Cisco on the street in North Babylon, the last sighting there would be for three days.

He and his family sprang into action, plastering the area with "missing" posters, peppering social media with photos of Cisco, calling shelters and vets, and reaching out to Teddy Henn of the Missing Angels - Long Island group; Henn brought a dog to track Cisco's scent.

The community also turned out to help save Cisco; a Facebook post by his wife Phyllis was shared almost 3,000 times, Sleter said. "It was just remarkable."

Strangers showed up at a wooded area with a creek and were wading through mud, searching. "It was an amazing experience from that standpoint," Sleter said.

The hours were long on Monday and Tuesday and a looming dread hung heavy as news of a coming storm weighed on his family's hearts, Sleter said. On Wednesday, his wife and Henn went out searching again.

Then Sleter, who was working from home, got a call from a PetSmart staffer who had been out searching with another employee and two friends. "She said, 'We see Cisco!' Her voice was shaking; she recognized him," Sleter said.

The group of four young people had spotted Cisco near the North Babylon Fire Department and managed to keep him cornered until Sleter, his wife, his daughter Morgan, 16, and his brother-in-law got there.

And then came the sweet joy of reunion. "It was like a scene out of a Disney movie," Sleter said.

They'd been instructed to approach Cisco slowly, as he might be nervous and would need to reconnect with them. Sleter's daughter sat on the ground and spoke softly to Cisco; Sleter had a collar in his hand.

"We could see by his reaction that he recognized us. His ears went down and his tails started to wag. Then he started to move toward me and I just grabbed him," Sleter said. "I've never played football in my life but that was the best football tackle!"

Once Cisco was securely leashed, Sleter and his family hugged the four who'd rescued their beloved family pet.

The huge-hearted response from the community left Sleter and his family amazed.

"The outpouring of support and love from people who don't know me, don't know us, was shocking. I was stunned by it," Sleter said.

From the hundreds of Facebook shares, to Henn's selfless search and tips on tracking dogs, Sleter was deeply moved. "When we got Cisco home, my wife said Teddy Henn cried. Teddy never met Cisco; he's only seen a photo," Sleter said.

And Henn wasn't the only one: Besides their overjoyed family, the community rejoiced when news broke that Cisco was home safe right before the snowstorm.

"My son said it best," Sleter said. "It's been a horrible year. We've been fortunate as things go, with COVID — we're healthy and have been working. But this year, with COVID, and the election, and the anger out there — this restored our faith in humanity." Despite many experiencing job loss and worrying about a vaccine, people joined hands and hearts to find Cisco. "They felt the need to help, and it was an amazing thing to see," he said.

If people could learn to come together as they did to help find Cisco, maybe "we can figure out a way to all get along," Sleter said.

Now that Cisco is home, exhausted and sleeping, Sleter said he still feels shaken, still incredulous at his family's miracle.

On Wednesday night, one hour after Cisco got home, it began to snow — a cold, driving storm that could have meant a very different ending for the family's precious dog.

He and his family gathered together, the snow falling, the Christmas lights on, and everyone home safe. "I kept jumping up, just to make sure he was really there," Sleter said.

If Cisco had not been found, Sleter had worried about how they'd get through Christmas. "How can you enjoy any part of it, if Cisco wasn't here? We all let those emotions process last night," he said.

Sleter thanked the four who saved Cisco, including Ruthie Mistretta, who works at PetSmart, her colleague Olivia, and two friends who turned out to help.

Mistretta said finding Cisco was an emotional experience. "It was the best feeling in the world. Those dogs are like our own dogs. We were so worried about him, especially with the bad weather coming. We were out searching for him. And it was such a good feeling to see him in their arms, to see him get in their arms, and to get that text telling us that he was home safe in their house."

The four young people, Sleter said, were remarkable. "To spend so much time looking for someone else's dog says something not just about the kids, but about the families — about how they were raised."

The deep bond he shares with Cisco was unexpected, Sleter said.

"I was never someone anyone would consider a dog person. My wife and kids wanted a dog. I was reluctant, and they talked me into it. Now, I love him, he's the greatest thing. And he's my best friend," he said.

Of almost losing Cisco, Sleter said: "Honestly, it was the hardest thing I have ever gone through."

He also has a newfound respect for his four-footed friend, Sleter added. "He managed to survive for four days and not get hurt. He went across that busy road at least twice. And we got him home right in time — right before that snowstorm."