Queens-based Bobbi & The Strays -- the rescue group whose rented shelter space at JFK International Airport's Cargo Area C was a central gathering spot for the searches for Vivi the missing whippet almost three years ago -- might be on the street by year's end.
The private shelter group's lease at ends in December. The airport reportedly plans to utilize the space to make way for extended runways.
The no-kill shelter has been trying to buy a building, but the city's still-steep real estate prices are a huge barrier. In addition to the challenge of raising the estimated $1.3 million needed, it also has to contend with zoning issues.
Bobbi & The Strays has an adoption center in donated space at The Shops at Atlas Park, a high-end shopping development in Glendale. But it is only large enough to accommodate cats and some small-breed dogs.
Comments (46)
This is just my opinion but Bobbi needs to look into other areas besides just Queens. She should not limit herself to one neighborhood. There are some areas in Brooklyn for example, that used, to have no zoning restrictions and this is something that you need to look into Bobbi. Before you know it, December will be here and you will be in a real bind...
There are many parts of Brooklyn that butt up against Queens and should be no problem for people looking for a new pup..
Sounds like good advice Kath...Zoning restrictions can cause a lot of problems!
Valerie Barnard is getting a new puppy! It won't be a replacement forante, who she loved with all her heart, but the new boy will be a playmate for Zipper and Trotter. He'll be 12 weeks old and is in Arizona...Val leaves, with Zipper on this coming Tuesday...The pup already has a name, picked out by Val's mom...TURBO! Turbo is a baby Whippet!
My guys will be meeting Turbo in November!
Vivi could use some candles! http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=VIVI
xoxorooby
SHEESH...something happened with my above post!
DANTE was the dog I was talking about.........ackkkk!
Hey NY gals, whats new in the rescue world?
xoxorooby
A new dog can ever replace a loved pup that has passed. But they do bring a smile to our faces and nothing like wet puppy kisses to make us feel better.
I found a few dogs wandering in the streets and put my trusty Vivi slip collar on them and walked them around and knocked on doors until I found their owner. Of course, I gave them a boggey man speech on the importance of this never happening again. LOL!!
There is a new post after this one, "Bobby & The Strays
faces homelessness"...I've tried and tried to get into it and can't...Is anyone having this problem?
rooby
Yeah Rooby when I click on the comments it brings me to this comment section. Something is wrong with it.
MISSING WHIPPET:
Toby got away from his handler at a show in Bozeman, Montana Sept. 15. He is posted on all the lost pet boards which Bonnie was nice enough to send me. Everyone has gone home from the show so Toby's owner is pretty much on her own. She's from Canada and is not familiar with the area. If there is anyone from Montana (near Bozeman) who could lend her support, she would be so grateful. She is doing all the right things but needs help. If anyone wants her number, or the number of a contact person please email me or post to this board. Please help Claudine find Toby. Thanks.
Chilly nights in Bozeman,middle 30's and 40's...It could freeze any night now. I hope they find the little dog!
Vivi's candles are almost all out, she has 15 this morning..
xoxorooby
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=VIVI
Hi guys, Ok this real estate crisis has hit close to home. One of my fellow real estate friends had to sell his house, and his ex
left her old dog with him. He is moving into an apt that does not
accept dogs. Gizmo is a senior ( ugh) 13 yr old shitsu ( sp?)
black little mop, cute as a button. does anyone have room for
al little old man. He only has about 3 wks before he has to get
out, and I don't want to see the dog put into the shelter, i cannot
take him as my dogs do not like little dogs, esp males.
Meant to say Toby went missing Sept. 17 not 15. Please if you know anyone in the area who could help, let me know.
Thanks,
Margot
Sue G, wish I could take Gizmo, but my cocker spaniel does not like other dogs in her house. You had contacted Jane from Montville before about the senior Greys. Maybe she can help with Gizmo. She loves seniors. Speaking of Jane, she and her husband adopted a 5month old Great Dane Puppy over the summer. So her senior Greys have a young companion now.
Margot, isn't Montana where Vivi's family moved? I don't remember what part, but it's kind of eerie and Toby being a whippet also. I hope there is good news that Toby is found safe and sound.
Going to light some candles for our Canine Girl.
That's right Susan Jill and Rick live in Montana. I forwarded that info to one of the searchers yesterday but don't know if they will contact them. This reminds me so much of when Vivi went missing which makes it doubly sad for me.They have done everything....as we did for Vivi but he is still missing. Please pray that Toby is safe and will come home soon.
Yes Susan That's where Jill & Rick live. I forwarded the info to one of the searchers but don't know if they wanted to contact them. Please pray for Toby. They are doing everything possible to find him....as we did for Vivi but not even a sighting in a few days. Thanks for thinking of dear Toby.
VAL BARNARD IS IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA...She'll be getting her 12 week old baby Whippet somtime this evening..She and Zipper made the trip fine..It was 103 in Phoenix when they got there.../o;
Sorry for the double post. It takes forever for a post to go thru and then I can't be sure it did.
Yea for Val getting her new whipper snapper, I hope she has more patience than I had raising my wild child Fiona, now she is 2 and
is pretty good, but damn are they cute puppies
Yay Ma - so glad Val is ready to get a new pup --- Dante is watching from above smiling that her heart is finally able to love another pup. And Zip and Trot will be happy too - well, maybe not with a wiley little puppy wanting to play all the time, but they will love him/her. We must have pictures....
SUE G: I have the picture of your wild child, Fiona on my frige..I think she was about a year old in the picture.
I talked to Val last night. She's staying with Zipper's breeder and there are 15 Whippets at the house right now. She had her little pup in all the confusion. They picked him up earlier. I guess he's a rolly-polly boy. I'm anxious to see him. They'll be up here in November to visit us.
I'm hoping Toby is found soon! Bless the little guy!
Vivi could use some candles.
xoxorooby
UPDATE ON TOBY:Yesterday after I sent a prayer request to Unity for Toby there was a sighting. Unbelieveable!!!!! He was limping and this week-end a Greyhound Rescue is doing a massive search. If anyone in the Bozeman, Mt area can help please call Dana at 388-3422. His owner is coming down again from Canada today. Please keep Toby in your prayers that he will stay safe and return home. Thanks.
Well, that's some good news on the Toby front. At least he's still around. I sure hope they can find him this weekend. Best of luck to whoever is searching for the poor little guy.
Hoping that Toby is found this weekend. It's hard to think that he's limping, but hopefully he'll stay in that area so the Greyhound Rescue and searchers can find him quicker. We surely could use a miracle in these times. Saying prayers for this furry baby and his family.
Good news there was a sighting of Toby. Let's hope there is a happy ending here.
Was there ever another sighting in NY of the person walking a dog that looked like Vivi, or any ideas if it was her or definitely not her? Sure wish there was some news one way or another.
Anonymous, it was found to be a Greyhound ...
rooby
Oh Dang, where is that girl????
WE know the Greyhound was the Airport sighting by the cab driver.
Maybe Anonymous is referring to the possible sighting that was reported a couple months back of the man in Brooklyn that was seen walking a dog that looked like Vivi. At least thats what I thought by her post. If I remember correctly we were all waiting to hear if he had seen the Vivi line up photos to confirm this might be her. Did anything ever come of that?
WHIPPET WORLD HAD THIS POST TODAY ON TOBY!
Well, I actually saw him yesterday for the first time with my own eyes. Michael got within 15 ft of him but couldn't get him. Toby was acknowledging what Michael was saying to him but would not commit to going to him. I know in my heart that if it had been me that had been that close I would have him. My heart is breaking as we lost him after tracking him for over an hour. He went 4-5 miles in the hour we had sightings on him. I'm at a loss and don't know what to do. I can't get to where he is being seen fast enough for him to hear me. Michael said that for a Whippet that has been on the run for 10 days he looks really good. He's covering soooo much ground it's unbelieveable. Animal control doesn't feel that live traps would work at this point as he IS covering so much ground and doesn't seem to go to the same place twice. Michael has gone back to Canada and I have to start seriously thinking about heading back again too. I cannot bear the thought of leaving without him a second time, especially now that I've seen him with my own eyes. But I don't know if I'll ever get close enough to him to catch him. My heart is breaking and I am alone here again.
Claudine
Claudine is feeling pretty discouraged and disheartened, but I tried to get her to stay positive and not loose hope. Where there are sightings there is hope!
She was going to talk to the local newspaper again to see if she could talk to the newspaper & delivery staff to see if they would be willing to distribute a poster along with the newspaper in hopes that someone will spot him and maybe she can get to where he is being sighted before he takes off. Will keep everyone posted if I hear anymore. Come on Toby, we are all praying so hard for you!! You need to go to your mom and then you can come home.
WHIPPET WORLD HAD THIS POST TODAY ON TOBY!
"Well, I actually saw him yesterday for the first time with my own eyes. Michael got within 15 ft of him but couldn't get him. Toby was acknowledging what Michael was saying to him but would not commit to going to him. I know in my heart that if it had been me that had been that close I would have him. My heart is breaking as we lost him after tracking him for over an hour. He went 4-5 miles in the hour we had sightings on him. I'm at a loss and don't know what to do. I can't get to where he is being seen fast enough for him to hear me. Michael said that for a Whippet that has been on the run for 10 days he looks really good. He's covering soooo much ground it's unbelieveable. Animal control doesn't feel that live traps would work at this point as he IS covering so much ground and doesn't seem to go to the same place twice. Michael has gone back to Canada and I have to start seriously thinking about heading back again too. I cannot bear the thought of leaving without him a second time, especially now that I've seen him with my own eyes. But I don't know if I'll ever get close enough to him to catch him. My heart is breaking and I am alone here again.
Claudine"
"Claudine is feeling pretty discouraged and disheartened, but I tried to get her to stay positive and not loose hope. Where there are sightings there is hope!
She was going to talk to the local newspaper again to see if she could talk to the newspaper & delivery staff to see if they would be willing to distribute a poster along with the newspaper in hopes that someone will spot him and maybe she can get to where he is being sighted before he takes off. Will keep everyone posted if I hear anymore. Come on Toby, we are all praying so hard for you!! You need to go to your mom and then you can come home.
Sue " 9/29/2008
Sue,
That is so sad. I can't imagine being that close and not being able to get Toby. I hope they are able to get him before they have to go home. Prayers for Toby.
Marty
I am saddened and depressed to report that Toby did not make it. Found this a.m., I believe hit by a car. Hug all your furballs extra tight for Toby.
Oh how sad...so close to getting him. My sympathy and condolences to Toby's family. A tragic thing to have happened.
This news breaks my heart.:(
Oh this was not the news I was hoping for. First Albert a few weeks ago and now Toby. This is just so sad
This is heartbreaking. They were so close to catching their boy. R.I.P. dear Toby.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=TOBY
rooby /0;
R.I.P. sweet Toby. I am heartbroken at this senseless tragedy.
I just read about Toby and my heart if aching for his family. They were so close to catching him and then this tragic ending.
Run happy and healthy at the Rainbow Bridge, Toby.
I meant "is aching" and now the commerical that has the song "Eyes of an Angel" for the humane society is on. This is a sad day.
That song & commercial is so sad (eyes of the angel). I want to save them ALL, but I can't. All I can do is take the best care of my babies and help others when theirs are lost or in need. I've been making my IGs practice "COME!" and they are not amused!
I can't stop looking for Toby :( RIP to Toby and huge love to all the other critters out there that need our help.
Please say a prayer for Toby's Mom Claudine.She is devastated and needs prayers.
such sad news......run free sweet Toby --- you are loved
This is such sad sad news......he can run safe now ---
VIVI'S CANDLES ARE VERY LOW! SHE ONLY HAS 9 CANDLES BURNING!http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=VIVI
Done Roooby.
Rooby, I lit some earlier but will light some now.
So terribly sad about Toby.
My prayers go out to his family and to all the kind people that tried so desperately to help Toby. I was just checking in to see how things were going. Poor Toby. I can't hold back my tears for him and his family.
Laura
KASEY - FEMALE PHARAOH - LOST IN MEMPHIS TN. SHE SLIPPED OUT OF HER SHOW LEAD.at the Agricenter's Showcase for Dogs 10/11: GERMANTOWN RD/1240 AREA
THERE IS A CANDLE SITE FOR KASEY!
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=KASEY
KASEY WAS SEEN TODAY AT 2:30...SHE'S TRAVELED 9 MILES SINCE SHE GOT AWAY ON SATURDAY. THEY HAVE A TRACKER AND DOG LOOKING FOR HER.
There is a candle site for Kasey...
Ditto our Vivi and one for poor little Toby
xoxorooby