$10K Reward for West Islip Dog Now Missing For a Year

Just about a year ago West Islip resident Donna Labriola’s home was burglarized and the thief stole one of her family’s most prized belongings: a four-year-old tan/beige pooch named Joey who goes by the nickname JoJo.

So for the past 12 months, since the dognapping on October 23, 2012, the Labriola family has launched a massive hunt both around town with flyers and online through social media networks.

Now the family is offering a $10,000 reward. Initially they offered up a reward of $2,000 supported by the Guardians of Rescue organization but retracted it as they thought it may keep the thief from returning JoJo.

But with so much time havaing passed the family hopes the bigger reward offering, which was funded by car washes, bake sales and garage sales, will get JoJo back home.

“When the 1 year anniversary was coming I decided that I really need for people to turn their heads and pay attention, so I put the reward to $10,000. Now maybe people will truly look for him,” Donna wrote in an email to Patch.

Joey is not chipped or neutered. He has blackish/grey on his ears and tip of tail. He has two protruding ribs on both sides of his belly.

Labriola describes JoJo as spunky, cute, friendly lovable dog that loves to sit on a lap, lick faces and have his belly rubbed.

“It’s probably the cutest dog I have ever owned,” she said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of JoJo can email Labriola at DonnaL864@aol.com or call 631-219-2211.