An update from Vivi's breeder, Bo Bengtson:
<<UPDATE AS OF TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2006
We are very grateful for the volunteers who are still willing to help make sure that Vivi’s picture and name are familiar to almost everyone who lives in the areas where she has been seen. It’s difficult to accept that she has been around there for so long without anyone being able to catch her, and it is sometimes also difficult to believe that she is in fact out there, but there are fairly frequent sightings. Even if some may be discounted others sound very reliable.
Gail has set up several feeding stations, one of them inside a small tent, and has set up a motion sensitive camera that would take a photo of any animal — hopefully Vivi — that is touching the food. If it turns out that Vivi is coming back to the same feeding station chances that it may be possible to establish contact with her. Traps have not succeeded so far but may be the only possible solution.
The best thing anyone can do to help is just sit on a park bench for as long as possible with a book and a sandwich (ready to share if Vivi turns up), and perhaps a small, non-threatening dog as company. If Vivi should be seen she should be treated as if this were an everyday occurrence, with just casual friendliness, treats and no attempts to catch her until it’s quite certain that it’s possible to put a safe slip-lead over her neck. Please see “How to get Vivi back” on this website (www.awc2006.com).
It is clear, however, that Vivi must be coping well on her own, succeeds in finding sufficient food, and although she is often close to people she is very wary of being caught – most likely after earlier attempts to do so. She is also still ranging over such a vast area — over a thousand acres — and not following any established pattern in her movements, which makes things even more difficult.
We are trying to remember that some of the lost racing Greyhounds were successfully retrieved after many months, even more than a year... but it’s difficult to wait so long.
Bo >>
Comments (17)
Thanks for the update Bo. You WILL get her back. I just hope it's soon! Be positive!
Lydia
Like Denise said , the waiting is the HARDEST PART!! I still know she will go home to Ca. it's just more of when not if... Thanks Bo for the update.
Thank you so very much for the update, Bo, and you, too Bonnie. Bo, there are so many of us keeping the faith and my heart is so with you, Paul, Jil and most of all Vivi! She's a California girl and she will come home to her golden state and your hearts and arms!! Keeping the Faith, Marnie in California
Dear Bo,
I rescued a dog who came up to me. He was wearing a collar and had a tag. Through the tag number, I was able to contact the owner. The owner informed me that his dog had been missing for four months. He said he thought he would never see him again. But thank Jesus, he did. We lived 30 miles away from each other. So don't give up hope. Keep your faith. Keep praying. Love, Betty
"O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things too sublime for me. Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me." (Psalm 131)
Oh,God, powerful Creator, of all things that have life and breath, Your ways are so far above our ways. We know You have a plan to help Vivi, Biggie, and Sniffles. The fact that we don't know what that plan is, is frustrating, and often discouraging for us. We have to remember Your great love for all You've created. We must trust, and most difficult of all ---often we must wait. Help us to silence ourselves, and give ourselves to You, like sleepy children with a loving Parent. Vivi, Biggie, and Sniffles have given their lives to You to protect, and are aware of Your love. We are the ones who are a bit unsure. Yet in confidence we do ask you to watch and protect our little trio, and allow them to sleep peacefully, in the lap that is You. Refresh and welcome those You have loved, person and animal alike, whose journey will end in Your kingdom this night. We thank You, and praise you for the love and healing You have shown to Madison, Dante, and Murphy.Let little Peridot be enticed by one of Your angels to eat the new healthy diet-- (if it has wings, he may think it's family). Bless and protect the searchers and posters who have become Your physical presence in this search. Send Your Angels to strengthen and support Vivi's angels. Let this challenging experience strengthen our faith in You regardless of its faith expression. Let us give in to refreshing and healing sleep, Knowing YOU ARE IN CHARGE! Amen.
Mary L.- Thank you so much for the pic of Toupee-- he is so precious and comic-- beyond words.
It has been 9 months since Katrina and pets are still being captured. I show dogs & also rescue. I worked 2 trips in New Orleans at 3 different rescue sites. I met and worked with many trappers.
Some pets were caught by days of feeding and coaxing, trapping in a house or fence, or using a humane trap. Some dogs cleared or scaled 4 & 5 ft. fences. I have seen them lie quiet, head down & watching while people walked by. My team boarded up sides of a house while I crawled underneath to 2 dogs that would not budge. They were caught with a control stick once cornered. This took 4 careful hours to not panic the dogs while we continued to block exits.
Some of the females are caught when they have been bred & will not leave their young. People reported their sightings.
We used 2-way radioes to slowly walk or bike behind a dog to figure out where it was making a den. We had scattered teams, though. The only thing that could keep up with Vivi would be a scooter, motorcycle, horse, or another dog.
If Vivi were seen, I wonder if she would respond to another dog. If this dog had a radio collar on and followed her, the location could be traced. They do this all the time with wildlife. Food/water stations are set out to keep the pets returning. The stations were marked for anyone to see.
Has anyone talked to professional wildlife trappers which also include veterinarian trappers who worked Katrina? These guys were fantastic.
Great suggestions Gilda. I bet you learned lots you never expected to down there.
Suggestion: From personal experience as an SPCA employee and dog trainer, it's my opinion that the reason there have been NO sightings of Vivi for quite a few days is that she may have already had a litter of puppies and, and will be her instinct; will not leave them. But this could be our ace in the hole for catching her, as if we can locate her and babies she is unlikely to run off, as she usually does. One thing I have seen work is to walk a lactating or pregnant female dog in what we believe is Vivi's safe area - believe me, the female will find puppies or another lactating female who may be ANYWHERE in the area. But if Vivi indeed has had puppies, her reluctance to leave them may be a double edged sword. If she takes it to the extreme, she may not be leaving for food or water for herself; but that's rare that they go that far. Normal gestation period for dogs (all breeds) is 60-84 days - so do the math my fellow Vivinators - she's well within that period. Sorry I can't come from Richmond to NY to help in person, but I hope this info is helpful to you all. I have seen it work! Let's hope...I still say: VIVI - GET YOUR DOG BUTT ON A GREYHOUND BUS AND GO HOME! Love and hugs from Richmond - Susanna
Or she could be caught? I love you all. And wish people would stop stealing my name. Yikes!
Rumor:Vivi's trotting around neighborhoods, nowhere near parks, not in Queens. Rumor, if you haven't heard, you're not trusted.
What would make her move away like that?????She escaped again. She is learning not to trust people.
Avoid any and all suggestions mouthed by Cynthia. Heavily post all parks and saturate her old tromping ground, ignore energy fields. Post every pole, every building, every nook and cranny. Have ten thousand eyes watching for her. Yep, that'll work.
What? Is she saying posting hurts Vivi and made her leave her safe area? Where does she get these crazy ideas?
Look, dogs don't care how many fliers are posted. They just can't know. Nothing forces them from parks, except perhaps, curiosity. I think Vivi is curious. Who's Cynthia? And get a real name - path.
Susanna, check your e-mail
Vivi's feet are wet.
Vivi is being very cautious. She is creeping around corners and will not venture down a street if she sees people or cars.
She hides in swamps. She's hunting for home. I had a vision of a hind leg injury. Vivi is doing much better today. It may have been a future event. Please find Vivi and bring her home. I feel greater concern for her than I ever have before.