<<In tomorrow's print editions, and currently up on the Newsday.com home page, along with a slide show. Denise>>
Search for 'Vivi' continues
BY DENISE FLAIM
Newsday Staff Writer
August 8, 2006, 8:03 PM EDT
Remember Vivi? A handful of diehard searchers do.
Tuesday marks the six-month anniversary of the wandering whippet's escape from her crate at Kennedy Airport after she competed at the Westminster dog show (left, with handler and co-owner Paul Lepiane). Though Vivi's owners eventually returned home to California, the search for their dog never stopped. In fact, it has taken on a life of its own.
There's a toll-free number, 877-JFK-VIVI. There's a conga line of sightings all over Queens, a half-dozen of which were confirmed by tracking dogs. (The latest, albeit unconfirmed: On Monday two passersby reported seeing her in Forest Park in Glendale.)
And, not least of all, there's a small army of two dozen or so volunteers, both local and long distance, who send e-mails and make phone calls, staple posters to telephone poles, and follow the roaming whippet's every move, real or imagined, on blogs and e-mail lists.
"They call me the Flier Queen," says Diane Tamm of Flushing, who estimates 50,000 fliers depicting the white and brindle whippet have been tacked up since that frigid February day when she bolted into the airport marshland. Another 15,000 wait in her garage.
The coming months could provide a break in the search for the AWOL whippet, who looks like a miniature greyhound: Vivi was expected to be in heat in late June, and last month the normally reclusive whippet was spotted with a pack of stray dogs.
Motherhood could curtail Vivi's wanderlust, at least temporarily, says Michael McCann of Randolph, Mass., an expert in corraling renegade greyhounds, some of which spend more than a year on the lam.
Even in such company, Vivi stands out. "This whippet has got me crazy -- she just isn't routine driven," says McCann, who spent a weekend canvassing for Vivi amid the whoosh of Woodhaven Boulevard. "No matter what you do, she pops up somewhere else a mile down the road."
Indeed, Vivi's Tour de Queens most resembles a game of hopscotch: Venturing into Jamaica from the airport, she surfaced in Flushing, then followed a greenbelt of parks to College Point and Whitestone. By May, she was spotted in St. Albans. After a detour to suburban Valley Stream, Vivi headed back west to Glendale, where she has been seen since mid-June.
Whippets, like greyhounds, are sighthounds -- speedy dogs that hunt by sight. Perhaps harking to their ancient nomadic roots, "they turn into wild dogs very quickly," McCann says. "And they turn back to good house dogs 10 seconds after you catch them."
Vivi doesn't seem to much miss domestication. She avoids baited traps, runs from strangers, and likely survives on trash-bin hors d'ouevres. With such an independent dog, McCann says, there is only one remedy: tincture of time.
"You're not going to catch a sighthound that can run 40 miles an hour, and she's not going to go up to somebody," he says. "The likely scenario is she'll go into a yard or garage and someone will close a gate or door behind her."
The waiting is the hardest part, concedes Vivi's breeder Bo Bengtson of Ojai, Calif. "I never thought she would cope" with the tundra-worthy East Coast winter, much less the traffic, he muses. "For this little show dog to have that much resourcefulness is pretty impressive."
What's even more stunning, he adds, is the outpouring his "Elvis phantom" dog has generated among complete strangers a continent away. "I don't want to be ungrateful, but also wish other dogs could get this attention."
Some have. In their travels, Vivi volunteers have rescued a Dalmatian, a Pomeranian, four kittens abandoned in a Dumpster and a litter of nine puppies living in a hollow tree in a cemetery, among others.
But Vivi still tops their list. Tamm owns four whippets, the youngest of which resembles Vivi, and "I can't take her for a walk without getting dirty looks," she reports. Rather than a bother, it's proof to Tamm that Vivi is still on people's radar screens.
"I wanted her to be the most famous whippet in the world," Bengtson says. "But I didn't want her to be famous for this."
For updates on the Vivi search, visit newsday.com/animalhouse.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
AP Photo/Westminster Kennel Club>>
Comments (48)
Denise, good story. I went back to the original slide show of Vivi on the Newsday homepage. It brought back memmories from day one when she was let out of her cage.
We need to Keep The Faith...her time is coming to go home!
Good morning friends,
Just wanted to let everyone know that a local New York dance station, Mix 102.7, has mentioned Vivi about six different times in the last two hours, on their morning talk show. They have one of their station DJ's somewhere in Flushing giving out keys that may start a car that they are giving away and also on the lookout for Vivi. Luckily Michelle Visage(one half of the morning show team) is an animal lover so everytime she mentions Vivi's story she is very serious. Unfortunately her sidekick that hosts the show with her is less tasteful, he keeps feeling the need to make jokes about Vivi, etc. Oh well, that is the media game unfortunately, at least they are helping keep the story alive. Here is the website, unfortunately I don't think you can listen online but for those of you that live in New York, it's 102.7fm on the radio.
http://www.wnew.com/
PS-good news about the two kittens I posted about yesterday. My Aunt is very involved with animal rescue and has a lot of connections, she's a professional dog walker in Manhattan. Her friend is a vet and is going to take the kittens and treat them (they need to be bottle fed, they have serious eye infections and are infested with fleas). So I was so relieved that the vet can take them, my poor grandmother was going crazy trying to feed them every two hours)
*keeping hope and faith alive*
Renee & Skully(in spirit)
I can't believe it has been 6 months. I check the web site every day to see if anything has happened overnight. Keep up the good work, here in Kansas and across the county people are sending you their thanks. K. and Lulu (the whippet)
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO HELP STOP GAS CHAMBER EUTHANIZING IN NC. THANKS EVERYONE.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/109677467?ltl=1155135733
I signed
I signed the petition also.
YEAH - here is the latest on Barbaro
Update 407: New Bolton Center press release: Another smooth cast change for Barbaro:
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is doing well this morning after the cast on his right hind limb was changed late yesterday afternoon under general anesthesia. "The leg looked good under the cast, especially considering the length of time that he has been in a cast," said Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery. "The radiographs also were encouraging. There is no sign of active infection. This is further supported by his markedly improving blood values over the last two weeks. He had an excellent pool recovery; he is a very intelligent horse and has definitely figured out the whole process."
The cast on the right hind leg encloses the foot and extends up to just below the hock. It will continue to be changed regularly until the fractures and joint fusions have healed completely enough to sustain full weight bearing.
The bandage and protective boot on Barbaro's laminitic left hind foot continues to be changed daily. "The appearance of the foot is very good. It is dry and healthy looking with excellent early regrowth at the coronary band," said Dr. Richardson.
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, August 15 unless there is a significant change in Barbaro's condition.
Thank you, Kathy, for posting the update on Barbaro. Lifted my blue funk today! I so want this beautiful horse to get well and enjoy his life. He is so beautiful and intelligent....
He is on my prayer chain which never seems to get shorter....maybe some day.
Thank you, Kathy, for posting the update on Barbaro. Lifted my blue funk today! I so want this beautiful horse to get well and enjoy his life. He is so beautiful and intelligent....
He is on my prayer chain which never seems to get shorter....maybe some day.
Thank you, Kathy, for posting the update on Barbaro. Lifted my blue funk today! I so want this beautiful horse to get well and enjoy his life. He is so beautiful and intelligent....
He is on my prayer chain which never seems to get shorter....maybe some day.
Thank you, Kathy, for posting the update on Barbaro. Lifted my blue funk today! I so want this beautiful horse to get well and enjoy his life. He is so beautiful and intelligent....
He is on my prayer chain which never seems to get shorter....maybe some day.
Yikes! Only posted ONCE! Went through one of those Mickey Mouse robot things and then four posts came out.....sorry!
Wow Irene - you are really really welcome :)
Wow Irene - you are really really welcome :)
Thanks, Kathy....I needed to laugh right about now!
Geez, hope this doesn't post duplicates again...is it a Full Moon? Feels like one!
Well Irene honey, what a funk,lol...Pat, pat and tickle, tickle Irene! Get outta that funk!
I am trying Ruby! It's one of those days where i want to crawl in a hole and pull the top over myself!
I need to see really big letters on Denise Flaim's page that says VIVI FOUND AND SAFE! Yikes, that would do it, not only for me but a whole mob of people out there, right?
There was a beautiful full moon last night, Irene.
DAMN....I JUST KNEW IT!
My world always seems to flip when it's a full moon!
I usually try to keep track, but this whole Vivi situation has me not quite as organized as I was before she came into my life....(lol)!
Stay safe, Vivi and stay just where you are! It's a beautiful day, take a nap!
Fox NEWS they are going to talk about VIVI 1:40 pm , not yet but coming up incase someone feels like checking it out...
Irene, you must have been in a funk. That full moon last night was beautiful. I could lay in my bed and look from the side of the curtain right out at it. It was so bright it was amazing! I enjoyed falling asleep looking at it. Sorry you missed it. Hope Vivi enjoyed it!
Keeping my candles lit, I have been thanking God for keeping Vivi alive through that heat wave, He is listening! Rosa
Yeah, should have had my bottle of wine and been howling at it....I was walking the floors all night too...I will take a peek tonight...
I can't believe that it has been six months. What highs and lows we have gone through. Remember Darlene's visits to the airport? And how excited we were when it was first announced that Karen would be coming out? And when we realized that Vivi had managed to get out of the airport? All those days ago. Mostly, I am so glad there are so many people who still care about this little baby and want to help her get home. We will NOT give up on her. She still needs us.
It certainly has been a whirlwind of events - has anyone kept a diary of what has happened over the course of these 6 months - it would be a nice thing to read once we know the happy ending.
kathy, i only keep a diary on liverwurst....
beeeaaauuutiful day in NYC today!!!!! she must be having a great time in that gorgeous park today!!!
I bet she is - she is probably laying stretched out on her belly, under a nice bush with lots of soft green grass tickeling her belly - watching the world go by without a care in the world - little stinker
and drinking a chilly diet pepsi (for that girlish figure) and eating our favorite - weenies!!!!
well, gotta go - i am getting invaded by our girl and her mother... TYSON IS COMING OVER!!!!!!
YEE-HAW!!!!! bye, bye toes.....
talk soon kids :)
get pictures :)
TYson or Tysonette or Tysoeeena..does she bite chuncks outta ears Darlene? Does she lisp when she barks? heh
Give her a hug for me and report back to us!
Hugs to the little pot roast!
Good evening all! Bonnie has a new post on the blog.
O Good Shepherd, seek me out, and bring me home to Thy fold again.
Deal favorably with me according to Thy good pleasure,
till I may dwell in Thy house all the days of my life,
and praise Thee for ever and ever with them that are there.
Jerome (c. 342-420)
Gentle Shepherd, Creator of all that lives, gather and send to their earthly homes, all our lost ones---especially Vivi whose story we have been involved in. Heal our sick ones, human and animal.May our faith increase. We praise You for Your goodness and concern for all You have made.
Vivi, You are God's loving, obedient creature. God calls you to your right place, and right volunteer, quickly and safely. Listen to His voice, come to the spot where you can go home to Jil. Good Shepherd call and bring this beautiful little dog to safety. She has been on the road long enough, and wants to follow You so she can return to Jil. (Amen)
Biggie, Sniffles, Holly, African Grey, Faithful (the little girl's seizure dog), Buddy, Rags, Precious, Whippet Annie Little Aussie, Apple Riley, and Montefiore Mama, Daddy, and girl (the “tree puppies’” family)You are God's loving, obedient creatures. God calls you to your right place, and right volunteer, quickly and safely. Listen to His voice, Come to the spot where you can go home to your earthly family. Good Shepherd call and bring these beautiful animals to safety. They have been on the road long enough, and want to return home to their families. (Amen)
Jacque,JL, Lance,Madison,Kathleen's Mom Mary, Pam, Chris, Abby and Kathleen, You are children of God, a God who loves you and wishes to enter into every cell of your body and heal you-- give Your infirmity to Him. Great Physician, You who made the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk, heal our brothers and sisters so they can accomplish the tasks You have created them for. (Amen)
Darlene's Andi, Dante, Trotter,Nicki, CJ, Felice, Little McGee, Max, Murphy, Mylie, Barbaro, Gunner, Linus, Kiva, Ellie, and Morgan You are God's loving, obedient creatures.
He created you, and He wishes to recreate you by entering into every cell of your body, and healing you--surrender to His healing touch.Great Physician, You who made the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk, heal our brothers and sisters in creation, so they can continue to reflect Your unconditional love and beauty, and deepen our faith in you. (Amen)
Vivi’s Angels;you who have labored long and hard to bring this beautiful whippet home to her family- Know that the Father will honor, guide and protect you for being His hands and feet. O God. our Morning Star, send St. Francis, St. Anthony, and Your host of angels to help them accomplish Your will on Earth.(Amen)
Comfort all who mourn Father God. Greet all who make the pilgrimage to heaven tonight. Be with the families who are mourning them. Give all of us the sure knowledge, Father, that we will see our loved ones, human and animal who have gone before. Let them know how much we love them and how hard we are trying to join them in Your time for us. Do not lose us Father God, keep us in Your care so that we may one day be among the flock that You call Your beloved.(Amen)
Let all of us sleep in confidence and peace, knowing YOU ARE IN CHARGE! AMEN
Candles: http://www.gratefulness.org
I'll be happy when Vivi has a post on the blog. Do you think she has a secretary and could let us know she's ok and eating and drinking and staying away from the big tough NY boys? lol.
Darned dog, how could we be so worried/loving/etc about her? Like I've hear it said, "I DON'T KNOW YOU BUT I LOVE YOU"...That goes triple for Vivi, the scamp!
She better have a secretary and an agent--there's gotta be a NY Times Bestseller here whe she comes back from living large in the parks.
She better have a secretary and an agent--there's gotta be a NY Times Bestseller and a movie here whe she comes back from living large in the parks.
Father God, Thank you and praise you for the progress Nicki(horse) is doing with his digestive problems. We know that You are coaxing him to eat.
Bless and heal Gail's mom who is not doing well at the present-- we ask these petitions in confidence and in Jesus' name.
Want to make your day--fellow "prayers"? Just try this link-
http://www.passionup.com/mp/blank/blank100.htm?e=imkld@yahoo.com&f=imkld@yahoo.com&cfp=1&h=7a49f7e8064d5e26&mp=1
Betty just sent it to me, and it's wonderful!!
Psalm 139:1-5
Oh Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my downsitting and my uprising, you understand my thought afar off. You compassest my path and my lying down, and are aquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo oh Lord, you know it altogether. You have beset me behind, and before, and laid your hand upon me...
Good morning Daddy God. We come to you with grateful and love filled hearts today. We are so thankful that we are your children and that all creatures are in your hands and tender care. Daddy God, as we read your word this morning we are comforted in the fact that you have all of us and all whom we have brought to your throne in your hands. You give drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless and guidance to the lost. Holy Daddy God, we thank you for continuing to care for and to shelter little Vivi. We thank you for bringing the publicity of Vivi's story back to life. We know that you will bring her home safe and sound. Let it be today Daddy God. We thank you for your continuous care and protection over Vivi, Biggie, Sniffles, Rags, Faithful,Little Aussie, Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Girl Pup, Apple Riley, Holly, Precious Hosanna, Buddy, Annie, African Grey, Pointer and Jack Russel. Thank you for your loving eyes upon them. Bring each and every one to safety and loving human companionship of home. Fill our hearts with laughter and joy in your Holy Deliverance. We thank you Holy Jesus for your
continuous, gentle and tender healing touch in Little McGee, CJ, Dante, Trotter, Felice, Max, Murphy, Mylie, Gunner, Linus, Kiva, Morgan, Ellie, and Barbaro. Thank you Daddy God for the miraculous improvement in Barbaro. We are so grateful to you for healing our precious creatures. Thank you for your rescue and healing grace in Nicki and Darlene's little Andi. We curse all sickness and all disease in Jesus's Name for it is an enemy in your sight. Holy Jesus, thank you for your continuous healing, life giving touch in our brothers and sisters. Little Madison, Baby Girl, JL, Lance, Pam, Chris, Abby, Pat, Jaque, Mary Ann and Kathleen. And now Holy Jesus, we bring to you Gail's mom. Touch her with your gentle love and healing grace. Protect Israel as she battles against terrorism. Strengthen her and give her victory over her enemies. Bless and protect America as she also battles against terrorism. Strengthen all soldiers who have so selflessly sacrificed all they have to defend and protect us to keep us free. Shelter, strengthen and defend them Daddy. Protect and shelter the innocent in your arms of love. Strengthen all of us today Daddy God as we walk hand in hand with you today. Fill all of us with your healing, deliverance and strength. Strengthen us as we lift up our faith to you and as we thank you with the surety in our hearts that Vivi will be rescued soon. Flood her with your voice and guidance. Lead her right into a rescuers arms. Bless your mighty army of rescuers and strengthen them. Renew their youth like the eagle's and bring them total victory in the task you have sent them out to do. Fill us with your glory and fill our hearts with laughter and joy as we experience your sweet deliverance. Let this be the day Daddy God...Let this be the day INDEED...In Jesus's Name we pray..Amen
When you get to your wits end, you will find that God is there...Church Sign
Good morning, everyone! I don't post hardly anymore, but I read everyday. I am amazed that all of you are in such great spirits - it helps me to keep the faith! Don't let negativism get to you - only positive thots will get our girl back home. Darlene - I don't know what we would all do without your daily dose of wienies and liverwurst! And to Sharon and Betty - thank you both for the prayers you give us everyday. They really do help.
I don't know if any of you even remembers me, but I am always here. All of you volunteers are in my prayers every day. And with all the good things that Darlene has told us is coming, maybe, just maybe, one day soon, we'll read Darlene's blog that says: SHE'S HERE!!!! SHE'S EATING WIENIES RIGHT OUT OF MY HAND!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone else have the feeling I have today - that the end is finally very near?
Barbara V
Hi Sharon (MI, I have been trying to email you.
Hi Sharon (MI, I have been trying to email you.
Kathleen McGurty-Weiser- What do you need Kathy? (My e-mail is sharon@georgediehl.com) the same you click on. I've received your previous e-mails this week, but when I've replied it seems you haven't gotten them. (no mailer daemon though...) Give the e-mail another shot--are you on team vivi? I always get those, also. The other Kathleen e-mailed me using this address....
Could you have e-mailed sharong, not sharon c?
MY GUESS FOLKS IS THAT KATHLEEN IS TRYING TO E-MAIL ME FOR A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR VIVI. CAN ALL THOSE READING PLEASE TRY THIS ONE??
Vivi, You are God's loving, obedient creature. God calls you to your right place, and right volunteer, quickly and safely. Listen to His voice, come to the spot where you can go home to Jil. Good Shepherd call and bring this beautiful little dog to safety. She has been on the road long enough, and wants to follow You so she can return to Jil. (Amen)
Yes Sharon, its Kathy from Team Vivi! I just wanted to thank you fo the religious medals and chocolate to send me. Rosebud is wearing one on her collar and I have one on my keychain. My husband and I fought over the chocolate and I WON!!
BONNIE WAS INTERVIEWED BY NRP (NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO) THIS MORNING. THE SEGEMENT IS CALLED "ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" SHE SHOULD BE ON THE SHOW TONIGHT. IN NEW YORK I THINK ITS STARTS AT 4:00 RADIO STATIONS FM 91.5, 93.5, 90.7. I WILL GIVE YOU THEIR WEBSITE SO YOU CAN CHECK YOUR LOCAL AREA WWW.NPR.ORG.
I was having trouble sleeping thinking about my Mom's cancer, and got up to read my e-mails and check the blog. This is an e-mail I found below without a real name to it. Whoever sent this to me, this is the most insulting and low-life thing you could have sent me on the very day I learned I may be losing my mother.
I hope your vicious act gave you pleasure. As for me, I will no longer be a part of anything related to the blog or anyone from the blog in the future since I have no idea who sent this. For the people who have been kind and sincere, thank you. For the person who sent me this, well you know where you can go as far as I am concerned. Excuse my anger, but this was just too much today.
---------------------------------------------------
Dear Kathleen Stephenson
Please change your humor.
Dear Vivi is not and is never an "evil" dog. She is a beloved family member, deeply and painfully missed all this time.
Those of you on the blog that demean dear Vivi by negative labels, in humor or not, need to think more clearly about your choice of words seen by many many world visitors to this dear Vivi blog and who are appalled by these kind of references.
Just be kind and true and clear writing, like the concerned person that you obviously are.
Kind wishes to you, for your dear family, and for dear Vivi.
A blog reader