Thursday, October 1, 2026
If you live in Island Park and the surrounding area you have probably seen a poster for a missing white Samoyed dog named Hawkeye.
Owner Irene Shtino was walking her dogs, Hawkeye and his sister Abigail, around the corner from her home on Island Parkway West. It was just before midnight on Dec. 31. She wanted to be home in time for New Year’s.
Her neighbor was having company over, and they decided to set off fireworks in Shtino’s driveway, scaring her dogs.
“They were screaming,” she said, “not just barking, but also jumping around. I had them under control,” she continued, “but the same people set off more fireworks when I was about 30 feet from my house, and I lost both dogs.”
Neighbors and friends came to help look for the dogs, and found Abigail, , around 3 a.m. The search continued until 4:30 in the morning, and resumed at six.
Shtino has handed out flyers in parking lots and in shopping centers. The police carry flyers in their cars. The mailman, UPS and FEDEX delivery people have them as well. She paid for a company to make “robo calls” alerting the neighborhood to the missing dogs. She has placed ads in newspapers, alerted animal rescue and shelter organizations, and has a veritable army of neighbors and friends looking for her dog.
He is a pedigreed dog, and very friendly so she is afraid someone has taken him in.
“If they have a backyard they have no need to walk him, so if a neighbor does not spot him, there would be no way to find him,” she said. “He is a big mush, he loves kids, likes to sit with you, he is very friendly and not street smart.”
The Samoyed is a working dog. They were bred to hunt, herd reindeer and haul sleds. They are good tracking dogs. Although they can be strong willed they are friendly, gentle and are good family dogs. They were bred as a companion to the Samoyede people of Siberia, sleeping on top and warming their owners at night. They can grow to two feet tall at the shoulders and weigh 50 to 60 pounds.
If you spot Hawkeye call (516) 292-5309, or (516) 395-9676. There is a reward being offered.
