Today it has been one year.
Champion Bohem C'est la Vie, better known as Vivi, is the California whippet who disappeared as she bolted from her crate last February 15 en route to a Delta Airlines flight at Kennedy Airport after competing at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Denise Flaim of Newsday.com has chronicled the year long search for Vivi in her Animal House Blog.
If anything good can come of Vivi's loss, perhaps it will be a "Bill of Rights for Traveling Pets".
Please take a moment to read this post on Denise's blog: Crate Expectations at the Airport. It describes some scary moments while checking in a puppy to fly from LAX to Florida. Security personnel decide to open and re-check the puppy's crate at the last moment. Here's related post from Denise's blog.
I fully understand the problems of Airport Security in the post 9/11 world, and I shudder at the horrible thought that an explosive could be hidden in an innocent animal's bedding or toy.
However I think one item on that "Bill of Rights for Traveling Pets" would have to be something like this: If the animal's shipping crate must be opened for inspection prior to departure; it must be opened in an confined, enclosed room, with the room's doors closed; and with the pet's owner or guardian present.
Yes, that would take extra time. But I think the time spent would be worthwhile. And pet owners would cooperate to ensure their pet's safety.
All of us, from time to time in our real estate business, deal with relocating clients. Sometimes those clients will be relocating with beloved family pets. We want our clients and their pets to arrive at their new home safely!
Since I own Chihuahuas it is easy to travel with. I can go on the air line with a crate that fits under the seat. Now, some airlines will ignore you if the dog is on your lap, but most want them under. Only one dog per flight so always make sure you are the only one on each leg of the trip. If they are sibs then two can go under. For under the plane there are rules on temperatures of the outside also dealing with dogs. Some can fly if it is 70 degrees and a bit over. Others can't. There is a minimum temp also. Please have your airline folks give you all the rules.
I look forward to travel with my baby that I choose to take with me for whichever show. I let them out while in the terminals and right up to getting on board. I can't imagine being stuck in a plane for seven hours on a tarmack with a pet. I wonder for those pets. I had several friends stuck in New YOrk city due tot he storms and needing to return home after the westminster.
It is sad about the whippet. Some still think they see her running here and there. I personally doubt it. When shipping an animal have the crate taped big time and have notes on the crate not to open. There are locks that can be purchased. Now with all the security scares I don't know about new rules. Folks purchase dogs from other breeders who might live miles, states, countries away. They fly them out. This means the animal is without any owner while on board. I would use a very reputable airline and know the stops and the times they will arrive at each stop. Always call that airport to see if the plane landed okay and find out about the animal and it's health.
I also give water to them before flight and have a bottle like what a hampster can use for water int he bottle.
Here's REgis waiting for the next plane. This flight was from San Antonio to Maine
Sue from Maine
Regis is a cutie!
The story the Bo, Viv's breeder, told about his most recent experience is that the puppy's crate had already been inspected once, the crate door was then secured with those plastic cable tie thingies, Bo was leaving the area when he overheard someone say "Security wants to open this crate again!"
He ran back as security was cutting the cable ties -- in an open unprotected area -- and he was able to take the puppy and hold it while security did another swab for explosives. If he had already been out the door when they cut off the ties -- oh my gosh!
That's the kind of thing I think should be addressed in some legislation/regulations. The airlines need a system to do a complete, thorough security check of the crate, when the pet owner first presents the animal. The check should be done in an enclosed area. Once that check is done, the crate should be marked "OK" and secured with cable ties or locks. And the crate door should NOT be opened again.
Regis became a daddy the other day. We have a litte oncy girl. she was a bit over 2 ounces. Now to make sure she doesn't over eat. Hope she will be a show pup, but if not, she will still be loved.
sue from maine
REgis daughter just opened her eyes. She is a chocolate blob. HOpefully she will do as her daddy and be a big winner.He got his championship in Canada and then in the USA real fast.
THat little whippet is a sad case. lock the crates!!!!!! only if you are with the dog can it be opened. I had friends in the area looking for a month around the airport. They spotted the pup in and around the surrounding marsh areas of the airport. The airport so quite accomodating to allow many many doggy people search the areas. YOu would have thought a child was missing.
THe snow storm was awful that time also. I had two and half feet on my van when i went to pick it up after the westminster weekend, so it wasn't good weather for the dog. She isn't a winter hardy breed.
So sad. Once in a great while we hear there was a sighting, but I think that's wishful thinking. YOu never know. What if the people who work in the big warehouses around the airport aren't leaving food available and she might be running around still.
Protect your dogs and cats and birds and whatever else you have.We have to take care of them. They are helpless to so many dangers out there.