Photo of the day: Whippet in Texas

I smile just about as big as the Whippet in this photo each time I see this photo. Stephanie Williams is the co-owner of Bennu–a coffee shop here in Austin wherein I spend many of my days typing away at the good ol’ laptop, continually seduced by the iced teas and mate lattes. When my own travel site hosted a summer photo contest recently, Williams’ photo of Elliot won our readers’ approval by a landslide. And it’s not difficult to see why… look at this pup.

Now that I’m a (proud, so proud) dog owner myself (and she’s part Whippet herself!), I have a deeper respect for shots like these. Getting an energetic dog to sit still is a challenge in itself at times, so capturing a photo like this impressive. Moreover, a happy dog basking in the Texas sunshine is what’s depicted here, and sunshine is certainly synonymous with Texas this time of year.

Have photos of your own dog experiencing the landscape or season of a certain place? Share them with us at the Gadling Flickr Pool.

Delta pays $2,800 for a lost dog worth $20,000

I never actually thought about what happens when airlines lose people’s pets. Airlines lose bags all the time, and people travel with pets all the time. The odds make it inevitable.

I missed the 2006 story of Vivi the award-winning whippet, who disappeared from her crate at New York’s JFK airport after competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show two years ago. According to this NY Times article, her disappearance prompted an extensive, frenzied and fruitless search (including 100 local volunteers) in the states of New York and New Jersey. Delta Air Lines paid her owners a flat fee of $2,800 as it would for a lost piece of luggage of comparable size. Aside from her emotional value, Vivi the Champion was worth about $20,000.

Her owners have not lost all hope. Recently, they have been talking to animal psychics who have revealed that Vivi is alive and well, and living in Brooklyn.

What strange things have been found on planes?


Click the image to read the bizarre story…