'Our Family Is Heartbroken:' Help Reunite Dog With LI Owners

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A Long Island family is asking for the public's help in finding their lost dog, who they say may have been taken by someone.

In an email to Patch, the Teehan family said their 6-pound dog, Coco, recently got out and was possibly taken by someone near the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Cross Street in Williston Park.

"Our family is heartbroken over losing her and will not give up on doing everything possible to spread the word in the hopes of bringing her back home to us," the email read. "She may only be 6 pounds, but she is a tremendous part of our family."

Owner Cristina Teehan said the family is working with the company Professional Pet Trackers, which believes that Coco is in someone else's possession.

On Aug. 18, shortly after Coco's disappearance, the family launched a Facebook group in hopes of bringing her back home.

In less than a week, almost 300 members have joined the Facebook group, "Operation Bring Coco Home." One post alone in the group reached 16,000 people and had more than 300 shares, according to the family.

"In the week and a half since we created the page it has grown so much, and we've been able to share other dog sightings that are loose," the family said in the email. "Whenever we receive a call or text about a loose dog roaming an area, I always share it in the hopes of getting that dog home to its owners, even if it's not Coco."

Cristina, who is almost nine months pregnant with her third child, said the community has "really stepped up" in helping the Teehans find Coco, with some spreading the word on social media and others posting flyers in the area.

One of the flyers states there is a cash reward for anyone who safely returns Coco to the Teehans — no questions asked.