Upper East Sider Searches All Over Town For Lost Dog

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Shira Meged was on a vacation cruise when she got the worst possible news from the dog sitter watching her beloved three-year-old mini golden doodle, Rosie.

During a walk in Central Park on Saturday — her pup's favorite place, Meged said — Rosie somehow got off leash and ran off.

Heartbroken and distraight, she booked the first flight back to New York once the ship finally docked in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.

After a five-hour delay, her plane finally landed and she immediately hit the streets of the Upper East Side in search of her best friend, looking well into the rainy night and putting up flyers around the park and all over the neighborhood.

"I'm inconsolable," she said.

"It's just me and Rosie and our little black cat Bella, living together on the Upper East Side," Meged said.

A psychotherapist originally from Canada, Meged first came to New York City 11 years ago to attend grad school at NYU.

During the pandemic, Meged got Rosie and they quickly became very attached.

"She's very loving," Meged said. "She gives the best kisses. They're very aggressive kisses. And she's just funny — almost human — really animated."

"The people she loves," Meged said, "she loves a lot."

For the last three years, Meged — and Rosie — have called the neighborhood home, where she says "it seems like everyone on the Upper East Side is looking for her."

There have been some reported sightings of Rosie since she ran off.

When Rosie first got loose, Meged said a woman told her she tried to chase the pooch, following her all the way east to John Jay Park, but lost her.

At 4 a.m. on Monday, she got a call from somebody driving home that they might have seen her near Riverside Drive and West 158th Street, "which was surprising to me," Meged said.

After a quick Uber ride, she searched for over three hours until after the sun came up.

She spent the rest of the day searching with a friend and putting up more flyers across the neighborhood, especially near Rosie's favorite places, like Ella's Cafe and a Starbucks on East 80th Street.

So far, there haven't been any new reported sightings. A hired dog tracker hasn't had any luck yet either.

While speaking on the phone with Patch, Meged said she was heading back to John Jay and Carl Schurz parks to look for Rosie, who she thinks is still on the east side somewhere.

If anyone sees her, Meged asks to please call the number listed on the flier, as Rosie can be afraid of strangers and will run away if chased.

Meged still hopes that Rosie might be able to find her own way home, too.

"I left a sweater out for her," she said.