Patch Helps Find Posh White Plains Pooch

Diane Cermele was heartbroken to discover her pretty 8-pound Chihuahua-mix, last seen wearing a pink tutu, was missing from her backyard on Woodbrook Road in White Plains Thursday night.

“I died inside and any dog owner would know that exact feeling,” said Cermele, owner of Salon Posh in Mamaroneck. “I cried, I’m not even kidding, for like 52 hours.”

Her nightmare, thankfully, ended when the Wayne family, who live in the Gedney Farms neighborhood of the city, found the 11-month-old pooch named Boo Boo on their doorstep more than three miles away from Cermele's home and then saw on White Plains Patch.

“There was a huge sense of relief,” said Cermele. “I felt like there is a God, and prayers can be answered.”

Cermele said she left Boo Boo, a rescue dog from Pet Rescue in Larchmont, in her fenced-in yard with her other dog Baxter, a 1-year-old rescued coonhound beagle, for about an hour Thursday night, and found only Baxter when she arrived home.

Cermele said she isn’t sure how the dog got loose—if someone let her out or if she got scared from the fireworks at White Plains High School and got lost.

She began frantically reaching out to animal shelters, dog walkers and to neighbors, who helped her post about 250 “missing” signs in the area. Boo Boo was even featured on News 12.

“I have the best neighbors in the world,” said Cermele, who lives in the Havilands neighborhood. “Everyone was searching for this dog. She’s such a popular dog. Everyone loves her.”

Boo Boo was gone for about 24 hours when 7-year-old identical twin boys, Jonathan and Jacob Wayne, told their mother they saw a dog wearing a white t-shirt that read “Princess” and a pink tutu while they were on the swings in their backyard.

Within 24 hours, Boo Boo is assumed to have somehow safely made it across busy North Street, and through the former Ridgeway Country Club.

“I really don’t know how she survived,” said Cermele.

On Friday evening, the Waynes found Boo Boo on their doorstep — still in her pink princess dress.

“We all just fell in love with her right away,” said the mother of the twins, Tara Wayne. “ She really is a princess. We didn’t know her real name, so we called her Esther—after Queen Esther.”

Since the Wayne family was observing the Sabbath, they were unable to use the Internet until Saturday night. After searching “missing dog White Plains,” Boo Boo’s picture popped up on White Plains Patch, along with Cermele’s contact information. The Waynes called Cermele around 10 p.m.

“They drove her [Boo Boo] down to me and refused a cash award, but I have a bunch of stuff for those twin boys,” said a grateful Cermele. 

Though the kids were sad to see their new friend go, Tara Wayne said they were glad to see Boo Boo reunited with her mother.

“This is the happiest day of my life because Boo Boo has found his mommy, but look mommy, I have tears coming down my face,” Tara Wayne said her son told her.

Jacob described the incident as “bittersweet.”

“I don’t even know how he knew that word,” said his mother. “It was a great privilege to look after this dog. We were so delighted, having known the heart break of losing a dog and being able to return it.”

Cermele said she couldn’t be more overjoyed that Boo Boo is going to get to walk down the aisle in a flower girl dress at her wedding in six weeks.

“She is a diva,” said Cermele.

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