Local Captain Seeks Help In Locating Stolen Dog

NJ Charter Boat Capt Louis Grazioso said he left his car running outside the Holmdel Motor Inn on Route 35 North in Holmdel for no more than four minutes?  around 9 p.m. on Sunday night July 17th while he went to retrieve a friend from a room to take him out for pizza.

It was still hot, and he wanted to keep his 65-lb dog Dusty , tied down in the back seat, cool in the comfort of air conditioning. So he left the 2009 black Nissan Versa running, keys in the ignition. A mistake he now regrets.

I walked outside and looked over the balcony, and the car was gone, with my dog, he said Monday. The person who did this must have been waiting right there, just waiting for the opportunity. He said a pizza delivery person saw the car leave the parking lot.

Grazioso, 45 of Middletown is the Captain of a charter fishing boat called Striper Mania out of Keyport. He said he was in the middle of moving to a new home, and the car was packed with clothes, multiple fishing poles, tackle bags and a white cooler full of tuna caught on Saturday, which no doubt should be smelling pretty foul by tomorrow, if not kept on ice, he said.

Whoever took my car took everything of value in my life, he said. But I truly don't care about anything but the dog.

Dusty came into Grazioso's life in December. He said he rescued the 4 ½ year old yellow Labrador through an Internet site after his other dog passed away after 13 years.

?He has a lot of anxiety, he said. ?When I leave him, he goes ballistic. My fear is that this dog will be in a panic and run himself to death.

The dog has a blue and white leash on him, a camouflage collar, and dog tags. Grazioso scoured the farm fields along Centerville Road in the early morning hours Monday and contacted a handful of agencies that will assist with lost pets.  He remains hopeful Dusty will be found.

?The tide always turns at it lowest point, he said.

Holmdel Police broadcasted the information to police departments statewide, interviewed all guests of the Motor Inn and checked the area, but were unable to locate either the vehicle or Grazioso's dog.

The car's NJ license plate registration number is F40-AVV.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Holmdel Twp. Police Department Detective Bureau at 732-946-4400.