Search Called Off - Whippet

FORMAL SEARCH CALLED OFF FOR MISSING WESTMINSTER WHIPPET

The formal search for a Westminster award-winning Whippet that escaped from
her crate at New York's JFK Airport on Wednesday, February 15, has been
called off as of Sunday, February 26.

Ch. Bohem's C'est La Vie, co-owned by Jil Walton and Paul Lepiane of Ojai,
CA somehow got loose as she was being transported to a Delta Airlines
aircraft for a return flight home to California from the show.  She was last
seen that day running across the tarmac and going under the fence
surrounding the 5,000-acre airport.   Port Authority personnel, volunteers,
animal psychics and search dog teams have been involved in the hunt for Vivi
ever since, but there have been no sightings since that first day that she
escaped.

The owners believe that she has returned to the airport and is hiding in one
of the many unoccupied (but heated) cargo terminals.  Security
considerations, combined with the fact that the airport itself covers 5,000
acres, have forced the owners and volunteers to reluctantly call off the
search.  The owners will return to California and hope for news of a
sighting, which will bring them back to New York immediately.

The Port Authority and Delta Airlines have assured the owners that they will
continue to search daily for the dog, and continue to check the humane traps
that have been set for her.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for finding Vivi.  Anyone having knowledge
of her whereabouts is asked to call the Westminster communications office at
212-213-3212 any time (24 hours).

For daily updates on the search from Bo Bengtson, Vivi's breeder, log on to
www.awc2006.com.  Another source of information is Denise Flaim's blog on
www.Newsday.com.

Vivi, a Best In Show winning dog, had won an Award of Merit in competition
at Westminster on Feb. 14.

#   #   #

CONTACT:  David Frei, Westminster Kennel Club
                    (212) 213-3212       david@wkcpr.or