After a week and a half of daily searching for Vivi, the champion whippet who escaped at John F. Kennedy Airport the day after winning a coveted Award of Merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, her owners and breeders have reluctantly decided to return home to California to await word of a sighting.
Intensive daily searching of the New York City airport, as well as organized canvassing by local volunteers, has not yielded one glimpse of the white-and-brindle sighthound.
"As soon as someone says they've spotted her, we'll jump on a plane in the next five minutes," says Vivi's breeder, Bo Bengtson, who along with co-owner Paul Lepiane will be flying out to the West Coast this afternoon.
"I wish we could stay longer, but there is nothing we can do, really," he adds. Given the sheer size and inaccessibility of the airport -- security is exceedingly tight -- "there is no way you can catch a dog out there," unless there is an imminent sighting.
Last night, Bo and Paul searched the cargo area where a limousine driver saw a dog matching Vivi's description on the evening of her escape. There was no sign of her.
Bo stresses that the Port Authority will continue to search daily for Vivi, as any dog presents a security threat at the busy international airport. Port Authority officals will also continue to check the humane traps that have been set for Vivi in areas where searchers suspect she is hiding. Bo adds that Delta Airlines has indicated it will also conduct daily searches in areas of the airport that it has access to.
Bo says his experiences searching the airport's cargo areas in recent days made him alternately concerned and hopeful. Disconcerting were their sheer size -- "each is like a shopping center." But if Vivi is eeking out an existence amid JFK's many forgotten and remote cargo areas, she is likely comfortable and not in immediate danger.
"The cargo buildings are heated and surprisingly warm," Bo says. "There are a lot of unused offices, and wooden crates with fabric" and other material where Vivi could make a comfortable nest for herself.
And that, of course, is the conundrum: The availability of many secure hiding places, combined with the availability of wildlife in this relatively untouched corner of New York City, means Vivi could survive nicely. (That is, if she were still in the airport environs -- a big if). But those conditions also make it unncessary for this certainly frightened and possibly by now feral little dog to reveal herself.
Comments (13)
If someone lives by the airport could they possiby e-mail me @ wessle103@aol.com.
I'm so sorry to hear that Vivi still hasn't been spotted since that night when she first disappeared. Keep in mind, that dogs are not stupid. If she was cold, she would seek out shelter. If buildings were nearby, especially heated cargo areas, it seems very likely that that is where she would wind up. It only makes sense. If a human was lost, they wouldn't just curl up in the mud if they didn't have to, and neither would a dog. Regardless, the waiting must be like torture. I know it is hard, but never give up. There is always hope.
I am very saddened by the weekend search, with no sighting. I can only hope she is in a warm cargo area. Too many dogs you never see again or know their fate. I pray Vivi has one more chance, and is found soon. It is so cold and raw out there, and so difficult for any domestic animal to survive the elements. My thoughts and prayers are with her owners and well as dear Vivi.
Please keep the people of New York alert and on the look-out for this beautiful animal "Vivi". She is just a scared little creature and needs to be found. Thank you for all the posting.
Have just received a call back from a Mr. Mark Weaver, one of the CEO at Delta's "Executive Assistant" in response to my earlier call asking for Delta's help and more resources in finding Vivi.
How I wish I had better news to report, but that's not the case. When I gently reminded Weaver that Vivi was in a secure crate entrusted to Delta and it's obvious someone screwed up, he was extremely defensive and replied, "How do you know that?". Advised him that I feel there are 3 possibilities here: The crate was dropped breaking latch, the crate could have been hit by a large piece of luggage or it was deliberately broken and opened.
He then went into the "privacy act" and "disclosure regulations" scenario. Told him these were not medical records and he was telling me things that are not believable. Suggested Delta could have chosen a different route, stepped up to the plate and become visible in helping everyone find Vivi. I told Mr. Weaver to tell his CEO that I, and many other people, will never set foot on Delta and it will come back and bite him right in the butt!
I told him they've chosen the wrong tact here and that's a shame...especially for Vivi! Advised him they could have come out of this looking like heros and now they should buckle up because they are in for a bumpy ride!
Wonder if anyone out there is able to access any of the TV/Radio stations (especially CNN and Fox). Here in NYC, the story has totally died as of a week ago! They need a wake up call here and I don't know how to help past this...It's obvious Delta is feeling the public relations pressure 'cause he came out of the gate like a pit bull at me...he was defensive from the time I answered the phone..almost as if Vivi was flying on another airline...he started out complaining that the crate Vivi was in was "not theirs"...don't know what that means, but that could be their defense strategy here.
Irene Wilson
I just want to say that Delta did screw up. And I too will not fly Delta. I will keep Vivi in my pray and hope someone will find Vivi. Don't give up. GOD be with you and Vivi
I worked for Delta for 13 years and they were never animal friendly. Many times I took it upon myself to make sure the crated animals had water and comfort. I would never put an animal on a plane unless absolutely necessary and will NEVER fly Delta again. Believe me, they will tap dance around this issue as they always have.
AS FAR AS THE STORY DIED....IT HAS NOT DIED...LIKE US THE MEDIA IS WAITING FOR ANOTHER BREAK IN THE CASE.....READ MY OTHER POSTS AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS MEDIA GAME...I DO THIS FOR A LIVING AND WE STILL HAVE 2 CHIPS TO PLAY....THE FUNDRAISER..AND THE TRIAL OF DELTA AIRLINES..THEY WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THE MEDIA AT SOME POINT,...RIGHT NOW..WE SHOULD NOT ATTACK THEM UNTIL THE FAMILY IS READY...WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH DELTA IS HELPING THEM BEHIND THE SCENES...WE DONT WANT THEM SHUTING OFF THE FAMILY OUT OF FEAR OF OUR NOISE...BRIAN
With all due respect to the person who said there were 3 chips left to play, please let me say that Vivi cannot wait till Delta Airlines is on trial. Also, when is "the family going to be ready" to try to see what Karin Goin can do?
Seems to me that Delta has had more than enough time to come out of hiding and face up. Everyone will understand a "screw up"....it's what you do to make it right that really counts! In my heart, I feel that if Vivi is still holding on, every hour is crucial in her survival...she cannot wait for all of these things to evolve! Please, let's keep the pressure on Delta and not give up...I live in NYC and I can tell you that Vivi has been forgotten by the press at this point...never had great coverage to begin with...4 days at the most. If it wasn't for Denise Flaim's Animal Blog, I would have no info whatsoever! Keeping stories alive is tough because there is always another tragedy to take it's place these days. We have children that are lost and the public gets immune to the "noise" of it all real fast!
I don't buy the idea that Vivi miraculously found her way into well heated cargo areas and is snugly nesting with a full tummy because she just caught a rabbit....give me a break! It is bitterly cold here in NYC - where can she get water...everything is now frozen. It's hard to type these words, but this is the reality.
If it is part of your life, please pray for Vivi to hang on a bit longer...so many caring people and prayers will find her.
Irene Wilson
Chapter one has closed but hopefully chapter 2 will have a good outcome...
The fund is set up , by donating just a little I believe they will be hiring a PET Detective to FIND Vivi .
Donations payable to: Paul Lepiane
For: Vivi Fund
Po Box 479 Ojai , California
93024
All funds not used for Vivis search will go to a deserving rescue org. The quicker we move the quicker they get the PET DETECTIVE to Hopefully find Vivi.
I cannot believe this...I would never walk away from my lost dog, if it to EVERYTHING I OWNED! And this garbage of not allowing searches in Restricted areas is not something I would stand for! On that note it appears on the surface that Vivi was just a trophy dog,nothing more and nothing less. But what the hell they can always breed another dog to use, right?!DAMN RIGHT I AM ANGRY!
If the call that came into Bonnie's (?) cell phone came from another cell, couldn't it be traced? Supposedly cell phones have something like an electronic "fingerprint"
Probably, but I doubt if it would be worth it. That idiot is just trying to get money. Why would he want the money before they see the dog. Just a scam artist - albeit not a very good one. Terrie