MATTITUCK, NY — A complete of $8,000 has already been raised in lower than per week as a hometown comes collectively and swimming pools their sources in a determined try to discover a Long Island veteran’s beloved service canine Gigi, lacking since July — and get her home safely for the vacations.
“It is formally $8,000 for the return of Gigi. Two native Mattituck residents are giving $2,500 every for the return of Gigi,” Nancy Blasko of Mattituck, who kicked off the trouble, stated Saturday. “Someone is aware of one thing! Someone is aware of who took the indicators down all through the North Fork. They weren’t taken down for a no motive. Help be part of the Christmas miracle and return Gigi.”
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Those organizing the trouble say there shall be no questions requested — all they need is, if somebody has Gigi, is for them to convey her home safely in time for the vacations.
Gigi went lacking in July, 124 lengthy days in the past, and her heartbroken household — and the North Fork neighborhood that has rallied to assist — needs her again.
And now, a brand new grasssroots effort has kicked off with associates, neighbors and strangers donating money for a reward — with the fervent hope of getting Gigi home for Christmas.
The effort was commenced by Blasko of Mattituck, who pledged $1,000 of her personal money to supply as a reward. “Please assist with a Christmas Miracle!” she wrote. “I personally provides you with a $1,000 to the person that results in the return of Gigi, or returns Gigi themselves. No questions requested. Someone is aware of one thing. She did not simply vanish! It may very well be even your neighbor that has her. This is our native veteran from our hometown. This is a service canine and a household pet. To the person that has her — nobody is aware of it is you, simply drop her off at home! Do the suitable factor. No questions. Be the Christmas miracle in returning her.”
Soon, in a heartfelt scene straight out of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” associates and neighbors, a few of whom have by no means even met Gigi, started commenting on the Facebook postproviding their very own donations.
Someone supplied $500. Another, $50. One lady stated that she didn’t have a lot to provide however want to donate $25, to convey Gigi home. One after one other the donations are pouring in, a flurry of affection and hometown spirit, with a perception that if love is sufficient, Gigi shall be home for Christmas, curled up secure and heat in her household’s arms.
So far, donations are as much as $8,000.
Kathleen Stewart DiSilvio stated Gigi is a black Labrador Retriever, only a yr and a half old. She was final seen on Saturday, July 15, on Marratooka Lane in Mattituck.
But regardless of the rays of hope and optimism a number of potential sightings have supplied, to no avail, grief blankets the household’s home; her husband Michael, DiSilvio stated, can also be battling Gigi’s loss, battling anxiousness and PTSD. A fight vet, he served with the one hundred and first Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY; he later served at Fort Drum in Jefferson County, NY.
Christmas is very arduous, DiSilvio stated.
“She is a lot part of Christmas, from ‘serving to’ us wrap, to laying on the paper so that you would not. She would unwrap the presents earlier than Christmas Day. She would sniff them out.”
DiSilvio added: “She made issues a little bit tough, however you could not assist however chuckle. She simply wished to be part of the whole lot. She beloved to put underneath the tree on the skirt. We needed to twist tie and or transfer the ornaments up a notch.”
Last Christmas was solely Gigi’s first, DiSilvio stated. “This can be her second. Her birthday is true across the nook after the vacations and he or she shall be turning 2.”
Her voice stuffed with tears, DiSilvio stated whereas it is arduous to speak about — the grief and craving are nonetheless too actual and uncooked — she and her household need Gigi’s story to stay on the market, for the search to proceed. It has to, she stated — as a result of of their hearts, they consider she is alive and ready to be reunited together with her household.
Even adorning is tough with out Gigi, the reminiscences only a heartbeat away, DiSilvio stated. “We pulled out our purple blankets for the vacation, and her reminiscence is throughout them,” DiSilvio stated. “She would chew holes into them, making them seem like Swiss cheese.”
No matter what number of presents are piled underneath the tree, her household, she stated, shares just one want: “To convey Gigi home. It can be a miracle.”
Blasko stated after studying a recent Patch article about Gigi, now lacking 122 days, she felt compelled to assist.
“It breaks my coronary heart to see Kathleen, Mike and their children damage,” she stated. “I speak to Kathleen usually.After studying the Patch article, I simply felt we needed to get it on the market. I do know this time of yr is tough for households, however a reward may assist them. I actually do consider she is on the market. My coronary heart looks like she is shut. Someone is aware of one thing, and simply staying out of it. I pray arduous for Kathleen and her household. I pray the person who is aware of one thing or has her will simply return her.”
There’s another excuse Blasko wished to do one thing to assist a household wreathed in grief this vacation season. “20 years in the past when my mother was sick with most cancers, the neighborhood donated to her, to assist together with her drugs and when she wanted a automobile. The church household got here helped. It’s my flip to assist a good friend.”
DiSilvio stated the household has additionally been working with the Facebook group “Missing Angels – Long Island.” if Gigi is discovered and the person who returns her doesn’t need the reward, the money raised shall be donated to a charity, with a watch towards giving again after such an enormous outpouring of affection.
The seek for Gigi been lengthy and stuffed with pitfalls, together with false sightings and “lacking” posters that had been continuously and mysteriously eliminated.
At Christmas, advocates for Gigi’s return have requested that these hoping to assist mild bushes for Gigi and in addition, put her “lacking” indicators on their lawns — to maintain the candle of hope alive.
Because, regardless of the various lengthy days and nights with out her, DiSilvio and her household have by no means given up believing that someday, Gigi would come home.
“I’ve at all times felt hopeful,” she stated. “I’ve by no means felt that she’s not round. I really consider that she is on the market.”
DiSilvio stated she and her household wish to thank the various who’ve come ahead to assist, making flyers and posting them, sharing Gigi’s picture and story on social media, and rallying to look.
“I’ve those that pull up in automobiles in entrance of our home and simply pray,” she stated. Prayer teams are additionally remembering Gigi after they meet.
“All of us in our coronary heart of hearts — we consider she’s alive,” she stated. “Every day once I get up, I really feel like right now may very well be the day.”
DiSilvio is resolute in her perception that her household shall be reunited with Gigi. “Love goes to convey her home,” she stated.
If you see Gigi or want to donate to the reward fund, name or textual content 516-443-4902.
