Animal House

LET'S SWITCH TO THIS POST! Please be sure to consult with Bonnie prior to making any purchases for the search. She will be the one to "approve" these expenses. At this point, funding is being used to reimburse Laura and to cover flyers, postcards and the actual distribution of these items. I stated previously in the blog that I would cover the exense for one of the night vision goggles. For now this is a doable cost. Please, check with Bonnie first. If she gives me the go ahead, consider it done. Please be assured we are checking with Bonnie before spending any money! These are the people that are on the ground and are familiar with what they need to do their job in the search.

Believe it or not, my company's printer is here. I can't make any guarantees, but I'm hoping he might be able to help us out!

I just spoke to Ryan Ferrera, grounds keeper at the United States Tennis Center in Flushing. E-mailed him Vivi's picture with all pertinent information.
He said he'd inform his staff as well as security personnel at the facility.

PLEASE- somebody direct me to where I can forward a flyer to Ryan at the Tennis Center. As many times as I've seen it- I cannot find the link!!!!

It's amazing. Everyone gets down, discouraged, quiet. Then Vivi decides to take a stroll. And we're right back on track AGAIN. YOU ROCK, NEW YORKERS!

One thing for sure. Vivi must be in a better shape than we think. She has sure been "strolling" a lot!

Thank goodness for those kind New Yorkers who put out food for strays. They have probably helped keep Vivi alive this long.

Kathleen Stephenson

guys - night vision will be delivered after work to the girls!!!!!! got a co. on jamaica ave. who has them!!!! YAHOO!!!!!

Go Darlene ! :)

Yippee are they going to Jil for the cemetary
tonight?

Hey Guys, Just got home. Could someone please tell me where they think ViVi is heading and is she close back to the cemetary

I lost track of the link as to who we are suppose to email to coordinate when we can come to Flushing on Saturday...or even tonight, tmw, or Friday. Someone please send the email again if you can find it.
Thanks

MARIE - EMAIL BONNIE WITH TIME YU CAN BE THERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE, AND HOW LONG YOU CAN STAY

Marie, go to :

www.newsday.com/animalhouse

and scroll down to Saturday Stakeout, that's the post with the info

MARTY: LAST SPOTTED AT BOTANICAL GARDENS AT 11:00
ARE YOU GOING OUT NOW?????

Here it is

pawsativebf@aol.com,

SATURDAY STAKEOUT INFORMATION:

On Saturday starting at 6 a.m., we will be conducting a Stake-Out, where volunteer "Watchers" will be assigned specific corners/blocks to watch.

I will set up a specific protocol to use once Vivi is sighted by one of our group to keep everyone on the same page and proceeding in the same way when Vivi is seen. This protocol information will be given to all volunteers prior to Saturday. There will also be a few "Floaters" out to assist the "Watchers" and help with food and potty breaks where needed throughout the team of volunteers.

I need to know by Friday afternoon who will be able to volunteer for the Vivi Stake-Out and what hours you will be available. This will be an all day (dawn till dusk, so to speak) task. I'm sure not everyone can be available for the full day but ANY time you can be there to help out would be so very appreciated.
Once I know how many volunteers will be on hand, I will give out assignments of the corner/block to watch so you can immediately go there first thing Saturday morning.

Please email me this information at pawsativebf@aol.com, using "Watcher" in the subject line of your email.

We will leave putting up posters and flyers till the evening hours.

lois: checked with bonnie: a-ok. i will throw it on my c/c i am going to check with jil to see how many she would like. they are $200.00 plus tax each but if they are staking 2 diff areas, they will need more than one. also, if they split up, there is always a need for more. believe me, we kill for staple guns when we have to split up. they will definately need more than one. will ask and advise......

Loretta...found this link to the Vivi flyer
http://newsday.typepad.com/news_local_flaim/files/ViviNewFlyer.pdf

THAT'S THE WRONG FLYER! IF YOU NEED A NEW FLYER, EMAIL ME AND I WILL SEND YOU THE FILE IN WORD AND PDF.

duh...."Saturday Stakeout" That should have been easy to remember. Thanks for the info.

sorry about that Lois....Loretta asked for a link and that's all I had and no one else came back to her. Didn't know we had a newer one. So sorry....

Okay, this if off topic -- but we CAN help another dog -- this is the story of a dog that took a terrible fall and needs surgery -- if you can donate, please do -- I'll be sending a donation.

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Three weeks ago a couple's dog plunged from 100-foot cliffs above Del Mar Dog Beach.
Mesa, a 3-year-old Australian Kelpie who was adopted from Helen Woodward Animal Center, wanted to chase a seagull and escaped from the leash on which he was held.
In a moment's notice, Nicole Moore and Rich Newman say their dog was gone, tumbling and somersaulting down the rocky cliffs to the beach.
While Newman and his son raced down the sandy trail to find Mesa, bystanders came to the dog's assistance and later helped transport the severely injured and bleeding dog to the vet.
Danna Mechelke, a friend of the family, said Mesa somehow survived the drop, but his two front legs are horribly broken.
Mesa needs a $10,000 orthopedic surgery to fuse his bones together, insert pins and remove the damaged ligaments.
He will also need six to eight months of recovery and after care.
Without the surgery, Mechelke said Mesa does not have a chance, and his family faces a painful decision.
Mesa has the chance to be 80 to 90 percent normal with the surgery. He will be able to run, play and catch his frisbee again.
Mesa's family said it's willing to spend the time and energy it takes to rehabilitate him, if they can find a way to finance the surgery.
Mechelke said Mesa is a miracle dog.
Mesa was transferred to San Diego from Tucson at 7-months-old.
When the Newmans adopted him, he had Valley Fever -- a fungal lung infection he brought with him from Arizona.
After a complicated and expensive diagnosis, Mesa fully recovered and just came off his medicine two months ago.
In addition, Mesa was bitten by a rattlesnake two and half years ago and survived that as well.
Mechelke said Mesa's family is incredibly devoted to Mesa. She said their son loves to play with him, walk him and pretend he is a dinosaur.
Mesa is a regular at Del Mar Dog Beach. He loves to run and chase the birds, bound across the rocks and sidle up to anyone willing to scratch his ears.
With the help of San Diego County Credit Union, Mechelke has set up a "Help Mesa Walk Again" fund to which people can donate.

Donations may be made to:
Nicole Moore/Help Mesa Walk - 30
c/o San Diego County Credit Union
501 N. El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024-1319

If the donations exceed Mesa's surgery and recovery costs, all monies will go directly to the Helen Woodard Animal Center.

I've just received the invoice from Laura Totis, and have forwarded the information to Lois Baker for payment.

The total is $1608.11 (this includes all of her and Sam's out-of-pocket expenses).

I've also cut & pasted a portion of her email to me for your information:

"After discussion with you and the family I felt our goal was defined as having two priorities:

1. Check areas of recent sightings to determine if they might be Vivi or not.

2. To use the dogs to help narrow down the specific area she may be in.

When we left we had narrowed down an area and suggested locations for the traps. We did not want to spend your money frivolously so we pulled out when we felt we had accomplished what you wanted.

You might want to consider how to best use your funds toward capturing her. Finding Vivi will not get her home it is only one step in the process. Once you are relatively confident of her location you want to safely capture her.

Humane traps and working with local resources to build her confidence are the among the least likely to cause harm. Manhunts rarely are effective and may scare her out of the area leaving you where you started.

Good luck!!

Laura Totis

New York must have a dog loving big - game hunter, who for the right price, will hunt out and find little Vivi, at night if need be, and deliver a well-placed sedative from a special gun. Otherwise, how can anyone catch a Whippet that doesn't want to be caught? Even when surrounded by loving well-intentioned people? That little dear dog can evade the best of volunteers - even when surrounded. Surely if the price is right and if so many people from across the US are smitten with this dog, enough money can be raised to hire a "PRO".

Hi!
Had to go out for a while. I spoke to a local animal control officer here who said that dogs make circles and all dogs make bigger circles after a while. She owns a greyhound so is familiar with sighthounds. It sounds like Vivi is making circles of a sort. Siri, did you have time to call any other vet offices? Susan

CYNTHIA - I KNOW OF NO ONE NEAR HERE. I CAN'T GO OUT ON A LIMB BUT WILL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET. I WILL THROW IT OUT THERE AND I GUESS PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE.

I would like to come back out on Saturday, is there anyone in Eastern Philadelphia area that would like to carpool? I went last Sunday by myself and got lost too many times. Let me know...

CYNTHIA - I LOOKED - NO GO. DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE????

Lois can you please email me the Vivi flier.
Thanks

HEARD FROM ONE OF THE GREYHOUND RESCUES. SHE WILL TRY TO GET PEOPLE FOR THE SAT. SEARCH.GAVE HER ALL THE INFO----BOBBI'S # AND EMAIL. THIS GAL SOUNDS LIKE A DOER!!!!!
ALSO EMAILED THIS TO BOBBI AND DARLENE

http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?showtopic=72473

please scroll down to "Three Methods of Greyhound Capture", and read chemical capture. it is stated that it is the MOST risky and LEAST effective. if it is doen, it should be done by someone who has experience with sighthounds, and a radio tag is a MUST.

personally i think this capture method, anf vivi being in the city, is WAY WAY WAY TOO RISKY!!!! if she is drugged and wanders into traffic, it would be horrible. in addition, i think it would be nearly impossible for one or two people with the "guns" to spot her and tag her. there are so many people out there right now looking for her and they haven't even spotted her. it's the everyday people that have seen her posters and news reports that have been spotting her.

i am sorry, my miniscule vote for implementing someone with a dart gun is an emphatic NO

Just another note - if an animal won't go in a trap above ground. A pro can set up something that the animal falls into - and can't jump out of. That is why these game hunters are successful. Money is the key to it. As much as everyone is in love with finding her, including me, we just need to think outside the box.

cynthia, NYC has no big game hunters here. i have no clue who to try or who to call. we have tried every city, state agency for recommendations. there is no easy way i guess. and alos, NYC is very restrictive when it comes to "no standing areas" you are not allowed to stand, park, hang out, etc for long periods of time. tickets will be issued. believe me, debbie and i had to keep jumping in our cars and driving off to keep ahead of the cops in the more congested areas yesterday.

Whippets are very sensitive to sedation, it could kill them because they are thin skinned with no body fat. My thought is a tranq gun would be very dangerous to use on Vivi. You have to be very careful about anesthetics with surgery, and the vet has to know what they are doing!
I think it is going to take someone to be able to get close enough to her, and lure her in very slowly, with food etc...sometimes this can take hours of luring. The person who is luring has to be perfect on timing. Honi and I discussed this about a week ago. Laying on the ground and makes soft cooing noises, will get her attention, but again, it will take hours sometimes. I have done this many of times before. Just my opinion.

There's always a way to get around red tape. Otherwise we'd be back in the stone age. I think the Zoo might have some contacts. It is going to take a pro. My husband, who is an attorney, said "Shell out big bucks - hire a pro - and Vivi will be caught."

So, you guys in New York are the Key. Everyone else just brain storms. Put an ad in the Wall Stree Journal offering "Game Hunter Wanted" - raise $100,000 from all those who have fallen in love with Vivi - even at $10 bucks each (or whatever price will buy the expert.) Don't mention it is for catching Vivi - needs to be on the QT. Then you might catch the interest of someone who can do it - but he has to have references and good qualifications. That is the best suggestion I can come up with. I track my dogs for search and rescue, but people sometimes too don't want to be caught - they just aren't as quick as dogs.

Pamela, I thought she would have been more than that. That's for two people and three dogs. Did that include lodging or did Brian take care of that?

Kim -- you are absolutely right, I think. That's what it is going to take. Until that point, we just have to hope we keep getting sightings. And we will keep getting sightings as long as we keep informing people in the area about her.

Brian comped the lodging and accommodations for them.

wow!!! did you suggest that to bonnie? i know that money talks but do not know any zoo expert who would be able to help. that's another issue here.... we all work full time and then go to search and post. we have no access to phones unless it is to each other (which is constant) or to computers. could someone contact perhaps the bronx zoo for their suggestions? won't hurt to try. if there is a professional close and they know what they are doing, will work with viv's owners, then bingo. but we cannot - most searchers have already cashed in vacation days, sick time, and are blowing off work terribly. we have to keep our jobs!!! so, while you are relying on us to search, we need you guys to do the research when we cannot. so, please help if you can!!!!

Sounds to me like we need to kick in more money - I am up for another $100.00. Lois I am so lost in these can you send me your address again.

afternnon all,
catching up on blogs -
you guys are talking about trapping her
What about the Bronx Zoo .
Maybe they can help?

Darlene , I was out last night up on roosevelt putting up flyers I had spoken to Debbie earlier in the evening, and she told me that you guys were out there for a long time.

I met Jill and Tina and Rosa at around 9pm or 10 om - we dove up and down all the blocks no vivi but a lot of stray cats .

those streets are so small - I was so lost at one point. we ended up i have no idea where .
But I did see in those blocks al lot of open drive ways.

and more construction sites
Linda

Just thinking but most stray dogs on their own for a length of time tend to go towards other strays looking to form a pak. This might be what Vivi is starting to do. The fact that she went nose to nose with another dog, even thru the fence, tells me she's looking for some companionship. I'm not sure where I'm going with this (I haven't thought that far ahead yet). I'm just trying to think in terms of a stray, feral, wild animal and not someones pet or showdog, she is beyond that now. Any ideas?

As far as donations, we have covered Laura's costs with regard to the trip last weekend. We are also following Bonnie's instructions concerning flyer and postcard distribution, and night goggles. We have not heard from the owners or Bonnie as to any other expenditures they may need at this point, or how they would feel about hiring a wildlife expert.

For those who do want to donate, you have two options. You may send a donation to Lois Baker, but you cannot claim your donation for tax purposes. Lois has set up a separate account, and it's through this that Laura is being paid. The address is:

Lois Baker (make check payable to Lois Baker)
PO BOX 211604
Eagan, MN 55121

You may also donate through the Bobbie and the Strays website, and indicate that your donation is for the Vivi Search fund. This donation is tax-deductible.

I think any attempts to catch Vivi through darts or drop traps would need to be okayed by the owners -- it's highly risky.

Does someone know for sure if that was ViVi at the cemetary this morning

I think it's very positive that she went back to the cemetary last night, where the Doberman saw her...remember, yesterday we were all worried she had moved on. So, perhaps some late night dog walkers going round and round the cemetery might catch her attention again? Of course, then I don't know what would be done next.

Well maybe tonight Jil and Rick can watch the cemetary. She keeps going back there

Well I know they have a humane trap set up in the cemetary but the bait has to be good enought to lure her in the trap. How about that good smelling bait that the owners used at JFK

Interesting article. Vivi is a stray not a feral.

Feral DogsBy Sherry Woodard
How do dogs become feral?

A feral dog is the offspring of domestic dogs (strays) that may have been abandoned. Like feral cats, they live on the edges of human society, scavenging for food, finding shelter where they can, mating, and raising completely unsocialized feral puppies.

How can I tell the difference between a stray and a feral dog?

Strays were once family pets. Since they were social-ized in the past, they are usually willing to accept han-dling fairly soon after being trapped. They may need to be trapped if they have been living on their own for a period of time, during which they may have learned to be wary of some people. After eating a few meals, and making some new human and dog friends, most strays will become pets again.A feral may never be able to enjoy human touch and companionship. When people take ferals into their homes, the dogs often have good social skills with other dogs and are willing to be part of a dog group living in a home. Some are even willing to use a dog door to eliminate outside. But, they often hide if a human enters the room. Most ferals can be handled for necessary medical needs such as sedation for surgeries, blood draws for tests or sedation for grooming.

Where do feral dogs live?

Like feral cats, feral dogs live wherever there is habitat and a food source. Most com-monly, they live in parks, under abandoned buildings, in rural wooded areas, beneath freeways, etc. They live in hiding, and are often seen only at a distance. They generally move about during the times when humans are indoors – in the evening, night and early morning hours. The adult dogs are primarily silent, since drawing attention to themselves often brings danger. Many ferals are seen by the general public as either dangerous or diseased.

Just emailed flyer to KISSENA PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION - spoke to a lovely man named Joe. He will mention Vivi at their meeting tonight and hand out flyers at the meeting. He will also email the flyer to their members (Joe's idea!). I also let him know that we were doing a Saturday Stake-out, in case anyone wanted to help. DINA

I am just thinking to myself. Vivi has spent at least two out of the last three nights in the cemetary (based on sightings), maybe three out of three who knows. I would suggest that somone watch the cemetary tonight using the night goggles from a distance. Have a dog with you for both company and to be used as bait (not bad bait but, good bait). Later in the evening/early tomorrow morning, walk past the cemetary with your dog and see if you get her attention. Just think about this. What if she is equating cemetary to home at night and out and about during the day as going to work/the barn? It wouldn't hurt to try.

Marty, is the trap they have set up look like a cage or crate? She would be frightend by that, on the other hand the bars to the cemetary do not bother her, kinda like her security blanket. I'm trying to think like a stray dog.

THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TONIGHT WITH NIGHT VISION. LOIS: I AM ALL FOR ANYTHING THAT WILL GET HER BACK - WILDERNESS EXPERT, ZOOLOGIST, FLYING MONKIES - DON'T CARE!!! WE NEED HER BACK WHILE SHE IS IN THAT AREA!!!!!! WE CANNOT LET HER OUT OF THERE!!!!! WE/THEY MUST ACT QUICKLY. MONEY IS NO CONCERN TO US AT THIS POINT - TIME IS!!!! IF ANYONE CAN CALL THE BRONX ZOO, LOOK UP WILDERNESS EXPERTS, ETC THAT WOULD BE GREAT!!!! SUGGESTONS ARE GREAT BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH BY INVESTIGATIVE PHONE CALLS TO CONSIDER THE IDEAS OR DROP THEM. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CALL????? I AM TRYING TO DO THIS WHILE I AM ON A COFERENCE CALL AT WORK, TRYING TO GET READY TO PICK UP NIGHT VISION EQUIP. , ETC I CANNOT CALL!!!!!! CAN SOMEONE HELP BY CALLING THESE SUGGESTED PEOPLE PLEASE????

Not sure if this will come thru but it was a good write up on Vivi. I just found it while searching Dog Trackers.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=axG1I2hQZ6nI&refer=us#

GAIL - GREAT ARTICLE!!!!!! LOVE TO READ ABOUT NY'S OWN "KISSING BANDIT" GO VIVI - YOU MUST BE A HOT LITTLE NUMBER!!!!

Is someone watching the cemetery tonight... she seems to be going back there every night... i just hate that she is having to cross busy Main St to do it!

Susan

That was my thought. She may look at the cemetary as home for the night and being out and about during the day the same as when she would go to the barn for the day. Someone with a dog watching tonight with the goggles and then walking back and forth would maybe attract her and they would be able to see her too.

I AM NOT SURE, SUDAN. I THINK WITH THE NIGHT VISION, JIL WILL WANT TO STAY. I KNOW ROSA AND TINA STILL DRIVE IT UNTIL WEE HOURS...... WE ALL SEEM TO BE THE ONLY BOOBS THAT DON'T SEE HER!!!

Dina, that's great about the Civic Assoc.

Excellent work, Dina -- that's exactly the kind of group we need to talk to.

DINA - YOU RULE!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!! OK - I AM OFF TO GET THE NIGHT VIWSION. WISH AND PRAY!!!!

Another "out there" suggestion...but what if you were to use "extra" dogs to lure Vivi in? She liked the Dobe...if she's looking for a friend, maybe she'd be enticed by a dog posted in one of the areas she's been seen in. Is there any way someone could stake out the cemetary with a dog tied to a tree or even in a crate or in an exercise pen? How about a dog posted at the little girls' house? It might be difficult for someone to let the search party use their own dog...and this may sound cruel...but what about using dog-friendly dogs from the local shelters? Just another thought........jen

Jil said Vivi's routine at home was to get up at 6:00 in the morning and go out with Jil... maybe someone could sit in a car in the early morning to watch the cemetery... instead of only driving by. Maybe it's too early for people to want to be out watching.

Iva Kimmelman is on her way down there from Boston in her van with three Whippets. She will be in touch with Honi and Bonnie when she gets there. I think she's planning on going out tonight with her male, Torch. He's actually related to Vivi and is quite the charmer. If she'll touch noses with with Dobie she'll really be happy if she sees a Whippet.
We'll keep our fingers crossed.

This map may help get your bearings.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=flushing,ny&ll=40.751906,-73.799232&spn=0.003584,0.010729&t=h

Darlene I called the Bronx zoo and the office I would need is only has a voice mail and they said they would call back. Is there someone who can go by there ?

Bronx Zoo 718-367-1010

Sharon do you have a list of vet numbers. I'm not in a position to look I can sneek calls in here and there

Siri-Calif

Someone posted the phone number this morning, I just made the calls. The man who is helping us told me that he showed dogs at one time and would do whatever he could to help. DINA

Do you think Vivi would be able to find her way back to the cemetary? Do you think she'd want to if she's been in the botanical gardens? Maybe she will find herself a spot to curl up in at the botanical gardens instead of backtracking.

Do they have all night security in the botanical gardens? They probably do. Has anyone (or is anyone planning to) give flyers to the botanical garden's security office? If this has been done already, please excuse me for suggesting it (I try and skim through all the posts, but with the multiple threads could miss some).

The point of my suggestion was to mention an alternative - hiring a trapper - hunter pro - to use the most effective method - that works and is safe - who will be in constant touch with owners and "Whippet" experts - the big picture is to hire a "Pro" who can find her without scaring her and capture her without hurting her. That was all. How the "Hired Pro" does that is yet to be seen - but I bet it can be done. You see it often - but the key is not disturbing her little routine so she runs away to a safer place.

By the way, did anyone see the beautiful write up that Denise did on Vivi, that was in the Newsday paper this am?

While I was still searching early this morning I ran into one of the volunteers up in Bayside who gave me flyers. I'm not going to state her name because she mentioned something that I've heard from a couple of others that I've spoken with the last few days and it's another important issue that the organizers NEED TO TAKE HEED of ASAP:
When a call comes in of a sighting it does not make sense to send all your available volunteers to that site.....by the time y'all get there she's gone! Remember what the "pros" said: "You have to get ahead of her"...that doesn't mean to just hang posters....
WHEN A CALL COMES IN WITH A HOT TIP TIME IS OF THE ESSENSE.....ACT FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is what needs to be done the next time a call comes in that sounds like it's legit:
1) Quickly get the address and intersection.
2) Ask which direction she was heading.
3) Ask how fast she was moving & how long ago did this person see her?
4) Immediately call all your people in the area and based on the information you received above determine how far ahead of her and to the left & right of the direction she was headed in that you need to send people.....picture it like spreading a fan out ahead of her. It might be 5, 10 or even 15 blocks depending on what the person tells you. Also have a few folks on the avenues behind the location of this current sighting in case at some point she makes a turn goes 1 or 2 blocks and then she decides to go back up that block in the opposite direction from which she had been going.....remember she's LOST....and even though a whippet is known to go in a straight line, many of the streets of Queens do not go straight, many suddenly end like Bowne Street does at Northern Blvd. and then she's forced to make a deceision to go left or right, as well as should she cross the blvd. Also bear in mind she could be heading straight and if suddenly something startles her to her right, she'll go left at the next corner and vice versa. This is what her life is like...got it?
5)Only one person needs to come down the street that she was going up. Have nearly everyone else waiting on the avenues fanned out in front of her in case she turned up a steet or two but is still heading in the same direction. This way she'll be seen when she crosses the next avenue ahead of her.
6)Now you can delegate a couple of folks to drive up and down the streets ahead of her.
7)Once you've gotten all your troops in position NOW you can go and meet with the person who called you and ask all the other important detailed questions that need to be asked which I posted on the other thread.
Do this and you'll have a better shot at not having her constantly slip through your fingers.

And here's another thing that's set my teeth on edge:
The LOST & FOUND section of the newspapers in NYC are indeed read when someone finds a lost cat or dog!! A lot of papers do not even charge to place a 4 line ad in this section.
Consider how many folks we all keep running into that still don't know about Vivi? Many of them have the common denominator of being "down to earth", simple, basic unsophisticated people....who are not plugged into media all day and they don't subscribe to People Mag., etc.....this is the type of person that Vivi could decide to trust AND this is the type of person that would look in the Lost & Found section of the news!!!
This is exactly how I got "Max" my GSD back one of the times he took off....this dog was truly a master escape artist...to my amazement one day I discovered he had figured out how to push a chair to the window and open up the double hung window with his teeth....charming huh? NOT!!
The couple who called me in response to my Lost & Found Ad were elderly and religious. I learned that they had fallen instantly in love with my boy and I later learned from them that they had decided to look in the papers for one week and if they didn't see an ad for him, then they would conclude that either he had been discarded or not cared for enough for his owner to bother putting in an ad., and they would keep him! They also later confided to me that if he had acted scared of me they were not going to let me take him!!
LOL They may have been elderly, but they were sure as hell spunky! Thank god Max nearly knocked me down covering me with kisses when I arrived.....
The point of this is that you must utilize every resource and y'all are blowing a great resource by not taking advantage of this one! The secondary point is that you are risking giving the wrong impression that's she's unwanted by not putting an ad in.
Also consider this.....before I got into breeding/exhibitng I use to check the Lost & Found ads regularly just in case during my traveling around different neighborhoods as a RE broker I came across a dog or cat that matched one of the ads....surely other big hearted animal lovers do this too!
Hoping I have not wasted my time and that this so called "coordinated effort" will become truly effective in every possible way......

I agree with you Cynthia. Can this suggestion reach someone on the Administrative end of this that can make a decision on it ?

Siri-Calif

My vet also said NEVER tranq. Vivi, She is not a threat and nobody knows her weight or what her blood work will show. I think someone should get in touch with Diane K-Morris. Find out about the person she mentioned who does tracking and scenting work and has been recommended. I would do it but her name has no link to her email. Ignoring suggestions is only counter productive to bringing VIVi home.

Just dropping in with prayers, as always, for our girl Vivi! Special hugs to Jil and all the volunteers. I am convinced Vivi will be home soon.

Laura just called ... she says she's told the owners she'll return again if they want her to. She's hoping it's not necessary; that Vivi will be recovered quickly.

She only charged for two days and the rest were her and Sam's out-of-pocket expenses. Brian provided her with the accommodations.

I don't know anyone in charge of this hunt. I just donate money and throw out a few ideas. Maybe someone reading this does?

I have caught many lost and stray dogs - even the some that run - but I did it with help of a bitch in heat and some strong scented tuna. But nothing as difficult as this little gal seems to be.

I am willing to donate more money to pay for an expert tracker/hunter/capture expert!

There are some good suggestions out there, and lots of people who can start working on them. Right now Lois, Brian and I are working feverishly to get flyers done and arrange for distribution of flyers and postcards in the area, based on our conversations with Bonnie. Not sure what is meant by a "pro" -- I thought that was what Laura was.

If she was back in the cemetary again last night, which I did not expect but certainly hoped for, my quess is she will go back. She actually backtracked to get there from where she was. She must have a den there that she stays in that's why I'm hopeing the night goggles work. It won't help them catch her but it would tell them where shes hiding out. It's possible her den is on the side where she sniffed the dobie and she got up to check it out. I've done no work today other than Vivi work and I'm starting to think like a dog, pretty soon I'll be barking :-)

Cynthia, Vivi is female, and I know when my girls went into heat, they hated each other. Boy that is fun with 4 girls. If this was a male dog on the loose, that would be the first thing I would have done, get a girlie girl! Works very well.