Q. Did the man walking his Doberman near Flushing Cemetery notice Vivi's state of health, specifically, her eyes?
A. No, it was 3:30 in the morning and it is safe to say he didn't have his Starbucks yet. He did say, however, that his Doberman pulled him down the block on his Flexi lead to the precise spot where Vivi was standing on the other side of the cemetery gate. Presumably, the Dobe got a better look, but, like most Working dogs, he is not inclined to comment.
One of Vivi's favorite friends at the barn where her owner Jil Walton works is a Doberman, which may explain why she is drawn to the breed. She hangs with a Dal as well.
Q. Is Vivi in heat? Do we need to worry about "whip-pits"?
A. Of all the things to obsess over, Vivi's reproductive status is not one of them. She is not due to come into heat until the summer.
Q. Is it my imagination, or are the Vivi posters and fliers disappearing?
A. No, Dorothy, you're still in Kansas .. er, Flushing. Much to the searchers' frustration, New York City Sanitiation Enforcement has been removing Vivi fliers and posters from telephone poles and other public places where they are posted. They like whippets as much as the next guy, but it's the law.
Q. How about darting Vivi with a tranquilizer?
A. Dumb, dumb, dumb. What works for coyotes in Central Park under helicopter surveillance does not work for whippets lost in Queens or anywhere else, for that matter.
Sighthounds like whippets have very low reserve of fat stores, which is what make them so speedy. This low body fat also makes them very sensitive to anesthesia and especially barbituates.
Also, tranquilizing dogs of any breed is often not recommended by animal-control professions, because before the drug takes effect, the animal can run off and hide, potentially leaving it vulnerable to predators, traffic, adverse weather or other dangers while unconscious.
The best tool in the search for Vivi is patience, something which seems to be in short reserve these days.
Q. Why does Vivi run away? Why doesn't she want to be caught?
A. Back to the sighthound thing again. Unlike more biddable breeds, such as sporting and herding dogs, hounds are bred to operate independently of their handler. They are hard-wired to think for themselves, which is what makes them such an interesting sight to behold in the obedience ring.
Sighthounds breeds such as salukis, greyhounds, Afghan hounds and, yes, whippets, quickly resort to feral mode when they are lost in strange places. Their very ability to survive on their wits, independent of bumbling humans, is also what makes them so elusive and difficult to catch.
Short answer: A golden will sell his soul for a ham sandwich. A whippet won't.
Q. How did Vivi get from JFK Airport to Flushing, which is actually closer to LaGuardia?
A. Pet detectives stress that owners underestimate the distances their dogs can travel. Consider the story of Lucas, a whippet that was lost in downtown Atlanta, only to resurface one month and 26 miles later, having traversed some of the city's most dangerous thoroughfares.
That said, there are some tantalizing signs that Vivi didn't get loose on her own. An airport employee who saw Vivi the night of her escape Feb. 15 says she was not wearing her black leather buckle collar, which was fitted snugly so she could not remove it herself.
And there is some evidence that Vivi might have been in someone's keeping during her adventure in 718-land: A resident who fed her bread in Flushing Cemetery said she had a piece of white twine around her neck in kind of a homemade leash.
Q. Other than the dry facts of where Vivi has been sighted, what can I learn from this blog?
A. Reading the blog postings is an excellent glimpse at the complicated psychology of our own species.
Comments (335)
thanks for lightening the mood a bit, Denise...very much needed around here :).
I've been following the search and PLEASE everyone just Breathe. Frustration is a powerful emotion. Must keep our heads and emotions under control. Think like a hound!! Is it at all possible to get this Dode back in the area? How about level of training this Dobe has had? Is this Dobe social? Any chance of this dog being off lead in the cemetary to see if he can find her? If not There must be someone with a social friendly dog that can be trusted off lead.
thats it folks....THERE ARE THE FACTS....NOW STOP TRYING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL....LETS STOP KILLING EACH OTHER AND STAY ON COURSE....WE HAVE BEEN RIGHT BEHIND HER FOR A WEEK NOW....ALL THE EXPERTS HAVE NOT CAPTURED VIVI....SO WHY KEEP THINKING THERE IS A JESUS CHRIST OF DOG CATCHING.....BONNIE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB...AND TINA AND ROSA ARE AT THE SIGHTINGS IN MINUTES....WE WILL GET OUR GIRL...JIL WILL BE ON 88 NEWS RADIO LATER..THATS GREAT ...IT RUNS EVERY 30 MINUTES AND PEOPLE IN THERE CARS WILL HEAR IT....LETS GET BACK ON POINT...BRIAN
Amen Brian!
I have not said a word last night nor this morning -I will only say AMEN to Brian's comment - Everyone please let's get back on track - SAVING VIVI -
Marty, I just spoke to Animal Control here. She recommends that we should talk to Animal Control in NY, they would be better to assist with this. A dart gun could be used by a PROFESSIONAL (VET
Posted by: Kim | March 23, 2006 at 11:25 AM
Stop with the dart comments - If anyone uses a dart on Vivi, I would want the owners to sue to the fullest extent of the law. Stop with the bad comments - everyone out there is doing EVERYTHING they can. God Bless the Volunteers. I think Brian needs to give each of you a weekend stay in his hotel when this is over.... :-)
Also, she recommened this lady who is a vet and does search and rescue. She helps out Animal Control here.
Karen Dashfield email Kdashfield@nac.net
Barbara, I am against the darts, I am only relaying what Animal Control told me. I have whippets, I know what could happen, you obviously havent been reading my posts all along about not darting VIVI.
yes, please stop with the darts. impossible. WE NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN WATCH AT NIGHT WITH THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. ONE PAIR OF NIGHT VISION GOGGLES ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DO YOU PEOPLE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT FLUSHING IS LIKE? WE HAD PITS IN OUR STOMACHS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING OFF OF BOWNE STREET. NOT A BAD AREA - VERY BUSY. NOW, TRY LOOKING ON THE PITCH BLACK. i am trying to remain calm but how do you recover a pet when your searchers are so cold they have to run back to their trucks to warm up? this is no joke - this is how it is all day, every day. i am not trying to stir the pot here. instead, stop with the ridiculous ideas and get us some help here!!!
YOU PEOPLE HAVE ASKED VOLUNTEERS TO CALL ANIMAL CONTROL, WELL I DID, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID!
Thanks, Kim. Appreciate your taking that initiative.
what did they say Kim
I NEVER ONCE POSTED THAT I WAS GOING OUT AND GETTING A DART GUN AND DART VIVI. YES I HAVE BEEN TO FLUSHING BEFORE, VOLUNTEERING. I DROVE 2 1/2 HOURS TO HELP. I KNOW ITS DIFFICULT, AS THE AIRPORT WAS ALSO. MY WHIPPET WAS OUT THERE FREEZING TOO,EVERY TIME I CAME OUT. MY 10 YEAR OLD WAS HELPING ALSO. I TOO WAS PLASTERING FLYERS ALL OVER, YES MY HANDS ARE SPLIT ALSO, CHAPPED AND BLEEDING, YOUR NOT THE ONLY ONES. THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN HERE TO HELP. NOONE WANTS TO SEE VIVI HURT IN ANYWAY!
Does anyone know what their setup is in the cemetary. We know she is not getting thru the gates because they are closed so once they can figure out how she is getting in then they can put the humane trap there with some good BAIT.
I don't know where everyone lives but I assume it's safe to say some people have never really experienced the cold that Darlene is taking about. Alaska is cold and many times the northeast has been colder. Unfortunatly along with the cold, there has been a blusterous wind for the past few days to make matters worse. It's been that way here in CT and even though NY is a little further south the cold there can sometimes be even worse.
On a lighter note...look how fit you guys are getting, running around climbing fences, not to mention breaking the law in some instances, lol.
You go girls, I for one am proud of New Yorkers, they always seem to get the bum rap.
Amen,Brian. Everybody is all over the road here!Lets all get back on the same page.
ViVi seems to bed down in the cemetery at night.This much we know. This is probably because she can get thru the fence easier than other dogs. There are strays in Kissena and thats probably why ViVi feels safe in the cemetery.Everything has to remain status quo there otherwise she will move on. Having a ton of people there walking their dogs and calling her name may not be the right approach. She ran out of piepers yard because of a Chow barking. She is obviously afraid of other dogs.Like Bo said...ignore her and maybe you will gain her trust.
Pieper...keep filling that bowl. She found a source of food now and she will come back for more. You have the advantage right now.Lets hope you are the "stranger" who rescues her.
DARLENE--
HAS CARL (PET-DETECTIVE) BEEN RULED OUT???
no need for another pet detective.we know wher she is every day....thats all they do...confirm sightings...that money is best off for equiptment
I don't think anything has been ruled out. There was some concern about whether the trapping/herding method Carl described would be effective with a whippet.
Part of the problem with trapping/tracking her is that we are talking about a very large area -- if anyone has been to Flushing, they will know this.
I think the owners and the group would give serious consideration to any well-thought-out plan (with a budget).
but can't their dogs follow Vivi's scent, the way that police dogs follow the trail of a suspect?
Vivi is moving much faster than any tracker could move. As Laura pointed out, any tracker will always be behind Vivi.
Liz, I agree with Brian they already know what vicinity Vivi's in. The dogs do follow a scent, however the wind alone can throw that scent in many directions. I think to pay another pet detective would be a waste of money at this time. If infact Vivi is not seen for some time that would be the time to call in the troops again. I would like to know however, what other forms of equipment would be benifical to use.
Gail CT
I mentioned earlier about the cemetary - it looks like it has wrought iron fencing? If I'm right, the little Whippet can easily squeeze though the slats - as my little thin Catahoula can do - sometimes the dog twists sideways - and I don't know how they do it - but they can get through seemingly narrow places. First the hear, sideways shoulders, twist at the thin waist - and pop right through. And my wrought iron fencing is standard size,- six feet tall with standard factory made spaces between the iron slats.-
As far as I know, the cemetary fences all have gaps where they are mounted to the poles above the ground, through which an agile, thin and/or determined animal can squeeze under if it is her desire. Some gaps are larger than others. This is an OLD wrought iron fence in a hilly area. It's not a tight cyclone fence or stone wall.
Well everyone here in Grand Cayman now knows why I'm constantly logging on to find out about Vivi- watching CNN before and after they did the bit on Hal the coyote being caught they did a thing on Vivi-good work keeping the word out up there! Vivi-enough already-time to go home. Btw- anything about Sniffles and Biggie pleae?
My hounds travel a specific route around my fields - and I bet Little Vivi does the same thing back to her Cemetery - its her home scent route.
Possibly, identifying this route might be helpful is devising a capture. But not to disturb this route is the key and not to disturb her bedding area with scent from volunteers bodies (that flows off humans like water - that is why bloodhounds can track people who leave in cars by sniffing the road - their scent flows out of the windows etc.)- because I bet it is someplace that is removed from the scent of humans. Just food for thought for whatever it is worth.
ENERGY FOLLOWS THOUGHT...be careful what thoughts and feelings you put out, energetics can be easily picked up by other people and ANIMALS! In lieu of pannicing...FOCUS ON A CALM and peaceful rescue. If Vivi approaches children, maybe it's because they're "innocent" free of fear and worry, just being "in the present" and open to play and be available. VIVI JUST MAY APPROACH A PERSON, who is calm, available, open to receive her. I'm visualizing that VIVI will be so exhausted, that she just may crawl into the arms of a peaceful person knowing it's safe.
On the calm person comment above: I had a little dog that was afraid of its own shadow - strangers - you name it. I took it to the outside mall here in CA, and a young teenager asked if she could pet my puppy? I said yes, but good luck. The small creature was afraid of even a leaf. I called the girl a dog whisperer - because she didn't bend down, she just glanced at the puppy and it snuggled against her tennis shoe as if mesmerized - an amazing sight to see. What a remarkable gift - but finding a dog whisperer at the right time and place - oh but we could all be like this girl.
Brian, If your on this blog, would you please answer some questions for me. It appears that viVi keeps going back to the cemetary every night. I know their is a plan in play but could you please tell me what the plan is for the cemetary. I hear Humane traps have been set up but nono of them are working so how are we suppose to catch her with a trap that doesn't work. And as far as the equipment you have been saying that money would be better spent on that, what kind of equipment are you talking about. I think not knowing the plan with the equipment is driving me crazy.
Judi and Linda that is the key CALM. Surround the searchers and people in charge with a CALMING LIGHT and all those that come in contact with Vivi.
We need people that can do this
Thank-you
Siri
I remember seeing on Opra one time about a well known dog whisperer. Does anyone know who I am talking about.
I agree, maybe buying a humane trap with some of the money collected is a good idea. I think the large ones are about $300-400. I don't know how many traps they actually have, but I do know that they could not set one when I was there last weekend - I think it was old and complicated. A lot of the lost greyhounds in that article were ultimately caught in humane traps! DINA
If more funds are needed for Vivi's search why don't we all have an ebay auction? I am sure most everyone has some junk/treasures in their attics or garages that they want to get rid of. It's also time for a spring cleaning right? One of the bloggers can list all the items that people want to donate.
Dina, I read on one of the blogs that none of them are working because they are old.
I think locating, if possible, Vivi's travel route to and from the Cemetery is a good first step. That will take someone skilled in reading animal movement patterns - and I won't use the "T" word again. Maybe a wildlife expert of sorts. I imagine she doesn't like the idea of going inside a small space - that feels like a crate and capture.
I wanted to mention also about Vivi probably not being wild with fear. Dogs cannot survive in a prolonged fear state. So a training technique is to flood the dog with the fearful situation, and the dog's fear center shuts off - calm takes over. I think Vivi, in her survival mode, is not distraught with fear - just careful of strangers and sounds etc. I learned much about the fear state in dogs having to deal with a Walker Hound bought for Search and Rescue that drooled and shook with fear after I bought him. So, we used this "flood" technique - dogs only stay fearful for so long - too much stress on their body. It is an inborn mechanism. I'm sure Vivi is well past this fear stage.
Marty: I do know who you mean. I saw that show as well. His first name is Cesar...but, don't remember his last name. He is in CA and works with all of the movie people, etc. I assume he would be frightfully expensive to get here and I am not sure he would be helpful. He seems to work with people's pets in their homes, etc. I don't think he goes into a situation such as our little Vivi...
Horse whisperers, as well, I think only work with horses already captured, so to speak...
I have seen this gentleman on other shows as well, but always with people having problems with their pets as home, i.e., barking, not housebroken, etc.
Irene Wilson
I just e-mailed Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer". He is in Ca. He specializes in rehabing dog behavior. I asked if he could help or suggest some one that could. Worth a shot.
The dog whisperer is Ceasar Milan. I think he is from CA. The guy is great!
Your right Paul. That is him and he is GOOD. He has such a calming way with animals. they say he is the best.
Thanks Alane. We have nothing to loose.
Okay if we just keep working our tired minds we will come up with something.
Can you guys muster a few hundred bucks to give the guy with the Dobe that Vivi apparently *LIKES* to stake out the cemetary on an all nighter? If you're talking about paying a trapper, you could certainly slip the guy a couple Ben's to help out.
Is the Flushing Cemetery privately owned or city? You might also think about making some sort of donation for grounds/upkeep in exchange for a night or two of a couple people being able to prowl the grounds.
I *still* think it would be a good idea to park a minivan (or something similar to what Vivi rides in at home) with the door open enough for her to get in...then pull it shut with a rope. That involve someone staked out quietly, many feet away with the night vision/heat sensor goggles on. I know that's a pain the butt, but I honestly feel it's a legitimate suggestion.
He has a great calming effect on dogs and people. It will be interesting to see what he has to say if he responds. His involvement in this effort would be pr for his image.
Jen - your ideas are good ones. I think many ideas need to be tried - maybe one will be the key.
Sounds good Jen. I think giving the guy with the dog a couple hundred bucks and have him walking around the cemetary during the night. It sounds like he is a night owl. I mean out walking your dog at 3:30 a.m.. He could have a extra lease with him and BINGO
Okay I'm getting nervous. No sighting yet.
Jen in Indiana:
You and I have not seen eye to eye in the past :) but, you are right on target with your idea. I especially think the van idea is the best. In fact, the same tactics ended in a positive result when capturing one of our lost rescue dogs. The New Rochelle Humane Society in Westchester taught us (Pet Rescue in Larchmont) this technique, it was a wonderful rescue that day.
Marty, don't get nervous we're the last ones to know when there is a sighting. Probably because they are all rushing to the site.
LORRAINE - HE WAS WAITING FOR THE DECISION LAST WEEK, DEAR. EVERYONE DECIDED AGAINST USING HIM. I AM SURE THAT HE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THE CASE. IF SHE ISS IN THE CEMETARY EACH NIGHT, THAT IS WHERE HE WOULD STATION HIMSELF FOR 48 HOURS.
SEE??? HERE'S THE DEAL. WE BASICALLY THINK SHE IS IN THERE LATE AT NIGHT BUT DO NOT HAVE PEOPLE TO SIT THERE OVERNIGHT, EACH NIGHT AND WAIT. ALTHOUGH LAST NIGHT THEY DID, THERE WAS NO SIGHT OF HER. THE NIGHT VISION WORKS GREAT BUT IT IS NOT AS GOOD AS INFRARED AND THE LIKE. HIS WEBSITE IS: carlwashington-petdetective.com PAUL SPOKE WITH HIM AND GAVE HIM A GO. TAKE A LOOK AND I WILL CONTACT HIM IF IT IS DECIDED TO DO IT. TAKE A LOOK EVERYONE......
So Darlene are you saying that Paul wants to use Carl now and what exactly would Carl be going there to do.
NO, MARTY - IT WAS BEFORE LAURA WAS CALLED IN.
Well I'm still glad we went with laura
LOL, Regina...I guess emotions do run high...but I truly meant no harm. Our "eye-to-eye" is truly proof that the good of Vivi certainly CAN come to the surface when needed the most! Take care...
me too - laura was really nice. :)
OK, everybody, your suggestions are mostly all very good and some are totally off the wall but you're entitled to your opinion so will not be criticized her BUT THE NEXT ONE THAT SUGGESTS A TRANQULIZER GUN I WILL PERSONALLY TRACK DOWN AND SHOOT YOU WITH THAT GUN. Seriously, you can never use a Tranq gun on a sighthound - we want to capture her, not kill her. Besides, as you probably saw with our unwanted visitor form the north, the tranqulizer doesn't take effect immediately, putting Vivi in danger.
Yesterday she was sited at the Botanical Gardens. I was at work but took 1/2 day off, ran home, got my Greyhound, Hub, and went down to the gardens with chicken and a squeaky toy. I had to get special permission from security to bring a dog in and we walked over the entire gardens 2 times. Hub did find one spot where a female dog relieved herself but that was it.
Later in the evening, around 7:30ish there was a siting of Vivi in a neighborhood near the cemetery. It was about 5 minutes away from where we were but knowing the area and having a lead foot I made it in a little more than 1 minute. It's dark, pooly lit and I saw no evidence of her - didn't surprise me at all.
The person that was mention above being form Whippet Rescue brought 3 of her own dogs with her one of which I believe is in some way related to Vivi. This lady has been doing rescue for ages and I hope she stays for the weekend.
From what I've been told, there are things being planned that only the original searcher know and it's on a need to know basis. They are intentionally keeping certain things secret so as not to interfer with or hinder their plans.
I want to get her home safe as well as, maybe more than, any of you do. Hubbard isn't used to all this exercise, he's your typical couch potato but if his running around will help, he's going to do it. Fortunately he doesn't barf in the care like my Whippets do.
Brian, you did a fantastic job with the press/media coverage. While I was in the BG I was approached by GMA who recorded some soundbites and apparently didn't use them and the LA Times which has a nice article today (if you haven't seen it it's at latimes.com) and then took them over to the park to meet up with Jil and Rick. I had Hub with me and so many people approached me thinking he was Vivi so the word is out there, I took the time to explain to each person the difference between the two if they see her to be sure to immediately call one of the numbers. Even a NYPD Lt. drove into the park to inquire if Hub was Vivi - NY's finest are on the lookout.
Keep making posters and keep up the positive vibes for Vivi. We need all the help we can get both human and spiritual. To all those that have already send me posters on behalf of Vivi I thank you. They are all fantastic, are delivered to Rosa daily and are probably all up and in use that same night.
I wonder if Vivi knew people were walking around her cemetary last night? She probably is not used to people out at night in her area - how big is the Cemetary - a square block? Maybe larger. Dogs can smell people - its in the wind. And night scents, in the wet air, just soak in the ground and stay - and I mean stay. Scents dry up in the heat and come out in the cold moist air. Scents pool around trees and posts. Is there usually a lot of people in the cemetery walking around during the day? Probably none at night much. It just seems that when she is sighted, and something is put in place - then she disappears. She must get wind of it - or we are just one step behind and a little short on luck?
THANK YOU, Diane. Do you all need more large posters? That's something we can do!
I communicated with Michael Pastore this morning -- he was involved in the initial airport search, and setting up the traps. I asked him if there is anything else we could be doing right now, in his opinion. This was his response:
I think everybody is doing all they can at the moment; traps set, people looking and unprecedented media coverage. Let’s hope for the best
How are the searches on Saturday going to communicate? In our seach and rescue work, in large areas, we use dedicated phones - like walkie talkies, made by AT&T and others, where we work on channels and we communicate with neighboring units lets say, everyone is on Channel 5. That way we can pass information quickly to each other. Then each person has a section to hunt - of course we work with dogs. Sometimes hounds can flush a creature out of hiding, but then again probably not Vivi - she's too fast. But if you don't work with hounds to track or flush - then it is just by eye sight and word of mouth and quick communication is even more critical.
I have been glued to this blog since I found it a couple of weeks ago. I am "tolerated" by a beautiful Afghan named Trevor, and have been involved in the breed for over 25 years, and have always been fasinated by sitehounds. My thoughts are with you all, and I look forward to the day you all find her!
Finally got a chance to catch up on all the blogs. I've been on a business trip since Monday and can only log on for a little while each day. Also got a chance to read Bo's las two updates (March 21 & 22). I was impressed with the gracious tone of the March 21 update. Clearly, Vivi's family has shown a lot dignity and class in dealing with this unbearable situation. I was particularly touched that even through their anguish of losing Vivi, they are also thinking of how this situation could benefit other strays, showcasing the work of Bobbi & The Strays, and providing input towards improving the conditions for air travel for animals. Their actions are commendable. In their shoes, I don't know that I can act as magnanimously. Also impressed by what was said earlier, that Vivi's family does not want all the funds raised by Brian's fundraiser to be spent on Vivi. Again, I don't think I can show such generosity of spirit if it were my dog that was lost. Their genuine surprise that many people and the media is fascinated by Vivi is endearing in its humility. I hope and pray that the lovely Vivi is returned to them soon.
I know there has been some contentious talk on the blog last night, but it sound like people have gotten past that. I personally think that the active New York searchers are heroes, and they are entitled to gripe, vent, etc., if they want. The rest of us who are not on the frontlines should be here to listen to and support them. As I pray for Vivi constantly, I also pray for those who search for her.
I repeat what one of the bloggers, I think it was Jill the veterinarian, posted awhile back--Vivi will be caught on her own terms. Bo posted a series of very helpful instructions regarding what to do when anyone gets close enough to gently capture her. While most of us on this blog and all the searchers are familiar with them, I wonder how we can get this information out to those in Flushing who do not blog, but may be looking for her also or come upon her accidentally. Any ideas?
While some on these blog have questioned the viability of the psychic's suggestion, it wouldn't hurt to try her suggestions. Prayers, meditation, visualization, or anything else that works for you will help all of us remain positive and hopeful and maybe bring Vivi back that much sooner.
Linda Vest - When I went to the Cemetery the other day, I took some more pics of the surroundings and specifically wanted to see the distance between the fence slats and the bottom openings. When I measured between the iron bars, it comes to 4 1/4" wide. The bottom opening from the fence bars to the ground is 3". I don't think she could possibly get herself thru an opening that small even as skinny as she probably is. At some point I would think that her bone structure alone would prevent her being able to pass thru it. Also you can see how some of the bushes themselves inside the cemetery provide almost a cave like protection, where she could very easily hide herself from someone standing only a few feet away from her. When I went to kneel down and look inside one of these bushes, and check for dog prints, I actually saw a little tiny baby hare just sitting there facing away from me, in the very center of the bush, not even noticing that I was so close to it. When I tried to get a picture of it, I had to move the branch and the sudden movement spooked it away. In any case, you can get a sort of an idea of what it might be like inside the cemetery. The pathways that you see in one photo, are all over the place and meander around in a giant maze thru out the cemetery.
To see the photos, click this link:
http://www.sageasita.com/FlushingCemetery.zip
Donna -- thank you for the photos. It's been a VERY long time since I was there.
If the recent upcoming efforts don't help, is it possible to put a Doberman in a dog fence inside the cemetery - one that is trained to stay, maybe its handler on the street in a van watching, or if acceptable inside with the Dobie who might entice little vivi to enter the fence and maybe a clever person can devise a way shut the gate - My Doberman will hold a stay for hours and he likes to play too. There must be competition trained Dobies in the area who are trained by voice command for long stays. This might work after all else fails.
For anybody who wants to make posters - we can use as many as you can provide. Large, 8-1/2 x 11, any size you can make will be put to good use. Since the Sanitation Police are removing posters we need to replace them as soon as we can.
To all those that have already sent in posters, thank you very much for your efforts and if you feel like making more please do.
I'm going home tonight and measuring the spaces between my wrought iron fence - because my little Catahoula, and its amazing site, puts her little head through, twists sideways, and she's history. I kept trying to fatten her up so she would stop escaping. One day she got stuck and I had to really work to free her. Thought I would have to cut the fence with a torch - she was that stuck. But they might be more than 4 inches - or so I think. It is like the stuff you see in home depot - even though a fence company ordered it for me. The widths are stanard. I only mention this because of possible exit points for Vivi - maybe she's coming and going in a place we couldn't imagine she'd use.
Diane -- could you give us the address again, for sending posters?
Send your art work to
Diane Tamm
111 East Shore Road
Manhasset, NY 11030
and I will give it to the appropriate person for posting. Today I received 3 packages of posters - keep them coming - we need all we can get.
YOU HEARD IT FOLKS -- LET'S MAKE SOME MORE POSTERS!
A few spots in the cemetery have been spotted where she might be able to get through - we're on top of those. Locating them is key.
Linda - I like your indoor cemetery lure with the dobie inside a big kenneled area. I've also devised a one way pet door that would allow Vivi to enter one way only. This device could be rigged to work so that if Vivi wanted to enter the kennel with the dobie, she could, but the dobie couldn't exit to go after vivi on the outside. And once Vivi entered the kennel to be with the dobie on the inside, that would be it. She'd be corraled.
yes - posters please..........
karin used a lure dog as well - a cute fluffy little thing. maybe vivi likes "the manly type"....
There is a bent picket in one spot on my deck *imperceptible to the human eye* and skinny dogs always find it and wriggle through it even though they could just walk down the ramp 10 feet away. I bet she knows every in and out of that place and there are probably lots of them.
I hope their not blocking those spots at the cemetary because then she would not be able to get in
Donna, very good pictures, thank you for doing that.
no, they are not blocking any area, marty. the cemetary is private property and we cannot touch anything.
Oh Goodie about the corraled fence idea. The manly Dobie idea is because she had a friend Dobie at her home ranch - and stopped to visit one - nose to nose. I wish I lived in NY I'd bring my big red Snoopy over at 95 pounds who will stay in one spot forever and loves to play even with little skinny dogs.
Lets keep the fence idea on the back burner for a possible Vivi trap if the good searchers can't catch here. Where is your fence located Donna? Please tell me in New York.
That's the tricky part isn't it in trying to balance things to search for this crafty creature.