Motta, Lost Shih Tzu, Missing On LI: 'I Knocked On Every Door'

BRENTWOOD, NY — A woman is desperately searching for her missing dog, Motta, who is lost in Brentwood.

According to her owner, Katya Riva, Motta went missing on October 14 between Perry Street and Lincoln Avenue, as she was leaving for work.

Motta is a five-year-old white and brown shih tzu, and weighs between five to seven pounds. She was last seen not wearing a collar. Motta was recently groomed, her owner said, and currently has a short coat. She also has a spot on her belly, and takes anxiety medication.

Riva, a living assistant, told Patch that the day Motta went missing, she misread her work schedule and believed she had that day off. At about 10:30 a.m., Riva realized she had misunderstood her schedule, and should have been at work right at that moment. Riva, who lives with her mother, said she then rushed to change into her work uniform and left her house.

"I was very sure I closed my door," said Riva, "but I didn't see if the door was closed or not."

An hour later, Riva's mother called her, saying that two out of their three dogs had gone missing.

"I tell (my co-workers) I'm going on break. Everybody looks at me and says, 'Oh, my God, you come late and you've got to go right now?" she said. "I said, 'I don't care.'"

When Riva arrived home, she told Patch that her husband had found one dog, Motta's brother Snoopy. But Motta was nowhere to be found.

"It was very weird because they are always together," said Riva, who also owns the dogs' mother, Bella. Riva has owned Motta and Snoopy their whole lives.

She told Patch that since then, she has put up fliers, contacted animal shelters and police, written posts on social media and even asked a professional to help find her dog. The same day Motta went missing, Riva created a special Facebook account, Roxana Pereda, to find her. Last Sunday, Riva and her husband searched for Motta on foot, looking under parked cars in case the dog was frightened.

"I knocked on every door," said Riva.

She told Patch that she also walks every morning and night looking for Motta. But unfortunately, she has been unsuccessful.

"I have a child who is four years old," said Riva. "She is sad. She's always asking, 'Where is Motta? Where is Motta?'"

At home, Riva said she is distraught about losing Motta. Her house, she said, is oddly quiet.

"I have two dogs more, but it's not the same. My house is so quiet because the other dogs don't bark," Riva said, tearing up."I miss her."

Riva is asking for volunteers to help look for Motta this Saturday, October 23 at 22 Perry Street in Brentwood at 10 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call 631-456-6029 or 631-835-5142.