Search coordinator Bonnie Folz sends this on:
<<Team Vivi Update, June 1, 2006
No confirmed sightings since last week. Viv could be in any neighborhood at this time.
Rosa and Tina received two calls from the Valley Stream, Long Island area, stating they saw a man walking a dog that fit Vivi’s description. These calls did not produce information that can confirm that this indeed was Vivi but posters have been put up in that area. This could be the same scenario as some calls we have received in the past, these people are walking their own dog (whippet) that looks like Vivi. Some of these dogs are actually males and not females. There are volunteers checking the area periodically in hopes of seeing this man and confirming if this is actually Vivi or not.
Jill Hopfenbeck, friend of Alan Borgal, paid us a visit this past weekend and met with some of the volunteers to review the areas Vivi’s been spotted as well as the feeding stations Gail has already set up, to give her input on feeding/baiting stations and how to proceed.
I received a donation of dog food from A & S Pet Supply in Ozone Park for the feeding stations. We appreciate all donations. Thanks.
A motion sensor camera was set up at one of the feeding stations but the photos produced were not of any quality. Another camera is being researched and will be purchased so we can find out for sure if the animal eating there is actually Vivi or not.
Barbara-Jean, one of the Vivi volunteers, was out posting today and heard a bark coming from one of the tall grassy areas inside a park in Rosedale, however, not knowing what a whippet bark sounds like she couldn’t discern if this was Vivi. I’ve heard some strange noises come from whippets while standing on the coursing fields. Possibly someone could record their whippet barking and such so the volunteers can get an idea for what she may sound like if they do hear a bark. From what I’ve been told, whippets are not barkers (having Pharaoh Hounds, I don’t know what that’s like <G>).
The volunteers that have been out on a day to day basis have been doing an outstanding job keeping the posters and flyers up, however, they cannot continue at this pace, and are in need of assistance. If anyone is available to come out to assist posting flyers, please email me. Pawsativebf@aol.com
A suggestion was made to have door-hangers made up and distributed. I was advised this is already being done by one of the volunteers.
It was my intention to mention at least one of the suggestions I received from my request of a couple of weeks back. All were good ideas. Some doable and some not. All appreciated none the less. Here is the first:
I OWN WHIPPETS AND YES THEY ARE EXTREMELY SMART I FEEL SHE DOES HAVE A SLEEPING PLACE SOMEWHERE IN THAT PARK THAT SHE GOES BACK TO . I WAS WONDERING IF YOU EVER THOUGHT OF A WEEKEND LURE COURSING TRIAL OR SOMETHING SIMILAR [MATCH] IN THAT PARK. I WONDERED IF THE BARKING AND RUNNING DOGS WOULD GET HER TO TO GET NOSY ENOUGH TO COME OUT. I KNOW LURE MEETS HAVE BEEN SET UP IN METRO PARKS ,SO I WONDER IF THEY WOULD ALLOW IT, ALSO YOU COULD HAVE WATCHERS THERE, PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE AREA WHILE THE MEET IS GOING ON. LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE SEEING THE RUNNING DOGS/WHIPPETS ,IF SHE DID, WOULD JAR HER INTO COMING OUT .I WOULD DO IT 2 DAYS IN A ROW AND HAVE SOMEONE STAY IN THE SAME AREA OVERNIGHT TO WATCH WITH NIGHT VISION .MAYBE THE SCENTS OF THE OTHER DOGS WOULD BRING HER OUT.
We are not sure if Vivi established a sleeping area within the parks she’s been seen or has taken up a sleeping spot in a garage or shed, many of which are left ajar. Unfortunately, the park areas Vivi has frequented do not have a large enough area to safely hold a lure coursing match.
Thanks to everyone pounding the pavement and behind the scenes, also to those thinking good thoughts and sending prayers, everything is appreciated.
Keep the faith.
Bonnie>>
Comments (24)
VIVI'S PRAYER
Prayer Just For Vivi-
Gracious Father, You are Creator of Heaven, and Earth, and all that has life and breath. We raise in confidence a prayer for Vivi. This graceful dog of Yours has reached a turning point, and may be heading into unsafe territory. Send her to the person You've chosen who can bring her to safety and home. Vivi's angels; Your human hands and feet in New York, are now carrying St. Francis',and St. Anthony, medals or cards with them. They are doing this to honor and acknowledge You, Almighty Father, and to pay tribute to our human brothers Anthony and Francis. These holy men honored You through animals just like Vivi. We thank You for sending us the miracle we have been waiting for. We thank You for keeping Vivi safe. Author of Creation bring this story to its happy ending. Lead Vivi to safety, Bring her home to Jil,Rick, and Paul. We ask in Your name, and in the name of Your compassionate Son, Jesus. All is in Your Hands Father, YOU ARE IN CHARGE! AMEN!!
Thanks Diane, for getting those medals to everyone!
Being a messenger is a thankless, job!
Thanks for the post Bonnie. Interesting idea about the coursing trail- perhaps it wud draw her out but if the parks aren't big enuf there goes that.
Is there a particular area being worked this weekend or are we hitting all over? If she has been seen by JFK again -or was that not true?- perhaps she may head into Nassau down the Turnpike- my neck of the woods. Please post where you want/need people.
Thanks again,
Lydia
Re - the idea of a coursing match - we have done straight racing to demo the sport in shopping malls - so very little space would be needed. Use drag. I think the idea of having several whippets out so tht people could see what they were really like might make an impression. I think it would also be a great idea to have those PHs out too - as they bark & attract a lot of attention - been there/done that (had PHs for 25 yrs - now have the quieter whippets). I think at this stage the idea would also be PR - people see the type of dog, a bit of fun for some of the organizers & the noise might just attract Vivi if she is in the neighborhood.
one more thought - I thought I read somewhere that there was a thought that she might be heading back to the airport. That might not be as surprising as it sounds. As mentioned before - I had Pharaoh hounds for 25 years - when they were out "hunting" - they would always return to where they thought they had last seen you. The worry was that something would happen to them if you didn't go off searching for them. I have seen a PH return hours later to the actual spot I had let him out of the van. Now I realize that this is now MONTHS later - but there could still be some instinct pulling her back there. People are still checking the area in & around the airport?
Bonnie - If this has not been done, I would like to see it done.
On the WWW, I read of the use of familiar articles (such as the dog's bed, etc) being used to lure a whippet back. I am aware of the tents and probably the use of some of Jill's and Vivi's scents, but could we also get articles with the scents of the other dogs and horses she was familiar with in these tents. Could you ask Jill for these if we do not already have them? I believe Vivi is desperately looking for familiar scents, and wonder if this might just lure her back to the better areas until she can be rescued.
Please e-mail me about this question. Thank you.
The only time my female Whippet "barks", if you can call it that, is when she's chasing a squirrel or wild turkey or cat or, on and on..lol..It's a cross between a bark and a "roo roo". I've never seen nor heard her bark at something that frightened her. She's just tries to get away from the object. She's not like a sassy JRT or a macho GSD, both of which I've owned.
MaryL-California
P.S. I'm thinking someone, maybe Kathleen said something about GailT going on vacation and Vivi leaving the area of the tents..Maybe Gail should start leaving her dainties around the area so Vivi can catch her scent again???
MaryL-California
Thanks MaryL, actually Cynthia posted something about this a few days ago, and it did make me wonder. She seemed to disappear around that time. Maybe she was finding Gail T's scent over and over, associated it with the kindness of food, water and shelter and decided to follow that since she has lost so much of her home scents in New York.
Just an idea. Maybe I will copy this and mail to Gail T so she will put some articles in areas. Worth a try I think.
MaryL, Gail said on her website, that ViVi apparently left her hunting grounds about the time she went on vacation.
But I wonder if the dog might now connect Gail's scent with food? If it she was feeding in the tents. Perhaps she'd trail Gail's scent as familiar? And if the dog is in the area of the airport again, does anyone think she'd try to re-enter the grounds through the hole she left them in?
Do they know where the hole in the fence is? Is it still there?
Christine mentioned her PH coming back to the place they left--like a good hunting dog. But how could ViVi ever remember or scent her return path in that big city with all the traffic and people? Would she remember visually? Surely her own scent is gone...but if she recognizes Gail's at all, perhaps Gail could be the "guidedog" that leads ViVi to a place she can be captured?
You think? Too far-fetched?
I e-mailed Gail T in case she wanted to try this approach. I don't think it is far-fetched at all. Think of animals who follow their scents for miles and miles to return home. Surely it must remain strong to them for a good while.
I noticed that a while back there was a sighting of possible Vivi prints - we just had a little boy that got lost in the mountains for four days and they found him because of his tracks - he was wearing spiderman tennis shoes that leave the track of a spider - they were able to find him by following the spider tracks - Vivi - put your spiderman tennis shoes on sweet girl so we can find you :)
I saw the news story on this little 8 yr-old found four miles and hiding. When I heard about the searchers tracking his prints, I thought of our little Miss Vivi.
Will her "heat" cycle affect her wanderings? I hope she returns up North where Gail is and the tents are.
Do female dogs go looking for males? Or is it just the males who search for the females? I heard Vivi was the only dog near the tents.
Bobbie, yes I saw that on the GailT site also. I also thought maybe, as was said, Vivi connected Gails scent with food. I also think Vivi smells so many scents, that one that keeps being THERE is good.
MaryL-California
I think Gail T will take care of the Gail scent thing for Vivi when she reads my e-mail. That is the wonderful thing about Gail T, she is so open to doing anything that will help this little girl. Never met her, but can tell from her e-mails and work she has a very dear heart for animals.
I heard about the liltte boy too. They never seen him from the helicopter that was searching. Spider man is what got this boy to saftey, he also had ADHD . I remember thinking about Vivi when I heard that . If it was that hard to locate a little boy who I think was hiding behind a big rock (not sure) imagine how hard it has to be finding Vivi...she is very fast and at this point probably doing a fine job of nesting(thats my hope). Someone said finding Vivi was like finding a needle in a hay stack thats how they explained this little boy missing... Miracles do happen and I have great hopes that Vivi will be found. I'm sorry that people have left this site, I'll miss you guys... Some dysfunction yes... but I admire all of you for doing what you have been doing for so many months. Thank YOU !!! I hope we hear good news soon. Keep the faith !
MaryL.....
Check your e-amil ,please :-)
Tara in California ...
OOOPS... E-mail!
Tara :-)
Thanks for this info Denise, but I certainly hope you are not suggesting Vivi will never be rescued. I cannot accept this if so, read too many stories on the WWW about whippets that have been rescued. The fact she is still out there just tells me we need to find another way to let New York know about Vivi other than flyers and posters. The pure volume of people and area in New York alone is totally impossible to cover with a handful of volunteers posting. We need media coverage in the newspapers, TV, buses, airports, cabs, and whatever else possible.
The many sightings of Vivi up to this point tells me alone the pure dedication of the volunteers who have been working with the posters and flyers - it is just time to give them more help and the media coverage they need. Could you possibly help with the media coverage using your contacts with Newsday? I feel this would probably bring this whole sad story to an end.
I love animals, and I cannot stand to think of this lonely animal out there and her confusion and fright.
Thanks,
Kathleen in Memphis, TN
Re-posted from another blog - I want Bonnie to see this.
Kathleen: I agree. Wish we could have a banner flying behind a plane or a Goodyear blimp pulling one.
Right now, I'd go for some fancy "sky" writing.
Okay guys. I am always confused about where I am supposed to be posting, but I guess if I post this in the wrong place someone is bound to tell me. I just wanted to give a little Sniffles update. Which is actually no longer a Sniffles update because there is nothing to update you on. Nothing is happening in regards to searching. its been raining a lot. I got the job at the CACC! I start on thursday after they give me a RABIES SHOT!
I got the big envelopes of dog toys Lydia! Thank you so much. I am bringing them to the shelter tomorrow and everyone will be thrilled.
Everyone at the shelter has a new constant reminder of Sniffles now. My friend sat me down in her living room and i recieved, after 4 hours of pain, a giant tattoo of St. Francis with Sniffles at his feet on my leg. Its true. Now everyone in my neighborhood asks me about it and I tell them all about Sniffles. How's that for advertising?
Oh, I got A's on all of my tests this week. Going to school and working full time is going to be difficult because school takes at least 4 hours a day, but I figure I am studying while I work so it can be accomplished.
Oh, and thank you D'ayne for the card and money. I love your cards. I still have the last one up on my mantle.
love and luck to all of you.
xoxoxoxoxox
i spelled your name wrong D'layne. sorry. It'll bother me if i dont correct it. Also, a photo of the tattoo can be seen on my myspace page.
xo
Hey Ashley congrats on getting the job -what is the CACC? As far as the toys- another bag to come- sending Monday. Don't give up on Sniffles. He'll show up. And keep doing the great work with school.
Lydia - Just Googled it (CACC). I was wondering also. It is the Center for Animal Care and Control. Sounds like our animal shelters in Memphis. They DO NOT get reviews or have good statistics it seems. Google it and read - high euthanizing rates. I'm assuming this is the shelter Ashley was talking about getting a job at and maybe the one she has volunteered at some. Hope she can help change things around there.
Thanks Kathleen. Oh now I know- must be the place she was volunteering. She's told me how heartbreaking it can be. Hopefully she can help turn it around. Best Friends Animal Org possibly can help -they are trying to get our county to be no-kill, bit by bit. Some cities have signed on and succeeded!
Read about them here: http://www.bestfriends.org/