Freelance Newsday photographer Charles Eckert has accompanied Vivi's owners and friends for much of time she has been lost.
Here are some of his photos (unless otherwise noted), starting with this image of a jet flying over the wetlands bordering JFK Airport.
Vivi -- formally known as Champion Bohem C'est La Vie -- in happier days, winning an Award of Merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show under judge Dorothy Hutchinson on Feb. 14.
She escaped the next day.
Co-owner Paul Lepiane is handling.
(Photo courtesy Westminster Kennel Club.)
Vivi's co-owner, Jil Walton, awaits word in the Delta terminal on Feb. 15, the day Vivi broke free from her crate before being loaded onto the California-bound aircraft that should have taken her home.
Vivi's breeder Bo Bengtson (left) examines a trap set by Mike Pastore of New York City's Animal Care and Control near a gap in the fence at JFK Airport.
Later in the week, Vivi's other owner, Paul Lepiane, and a volunteer consult a map of the area to try and plan their search strategy.
The Skykennel crate that Vivi was traveling in when she broke free. The locking mechanism appears to be damaged. The airline says it does not know how the champion whippet escaped; Vivi's owners suspect the crate was dropped or bumped, breaking the lock.
New Jersey whippet breeder and AKC judge Joan Goldstein secures a poster about the missing whippet to a bus kiosk near the airport.
On the Saturday after Vivi's great escape, volunteers canvassed the area around the airport. At far right is Bonnie Folz of Howard Beach and her pharaoh hound Glory. Next to her is Dennis Wolf of Queens, a Ridgeback owner.
Chewy, a search dog handled by Laura Totis, was brought in on Feb. 21 to help sniff out where Vivi might be.
While Vivi is the most famous dog lost in and around the marshes of JFK Airport, she is not the only one. Unfortunately, the airport is a popular place for owners seeking to "dump" their unwanted animals.
This stray dog is roaming the wetlands of Far Rockaway, not far from where Vivi was lost, and identical in terrain.
Photos (c) Newsday, unless otherwise noted.
Comments (5)
What happened to the stray in the picture? I am hoping he/she was picked up and taken to a shelter.
Please tell me someone tried to help the stray in the picture someone took while looking for Vivi!
Please tell us all what happen to the stray. Did someone pick him/her up and if not will they try to get that dog also, PLEASE!!
I'm hoping and praying that Vivi is found. . very soon. Every day I check this web site hoping to hear some good news. I also really hope that whoever took that picture of the stray didn't just walk away from it without trying to help in some way. Let's say some prayers for the countless strays out there that don't have search parties looking for them! All dogs. . .champions and mutts. . .are God's creatures.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to Vivi, her owners, and all who have been touched. Vivi was turned over to Delta's care and I really would like to KNOW what is being done by them to return her? People should not be having to donate money to pay for a job Delta was paid to do in the first place. Do we need to call the USDA and have them go and see what is being done to secure this dog when everyone has pointed out the dangers this dog is in right NOW and possibly suffering from the elements.
There are MANY stories similar to Vivi's of how Delta has a pattern of neglecting and abusing animals put into their care. They were already fined $140,000!!! The problems continues... where they are endangering Vivi by their lack of looking for her and securing her. This is truly a NIGHTMARE that things are not being done by Delta to do everything to secure this dog out of danger and return her to her owners.
http://www.sfspca.org/advocacy/pdf/pdf_airplanes/final_report.pdf
http://www.petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=99311&highlight=Delta
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2001/01/DELTAREX.HTM