 |
Lori Craig |
For those of you who don’t know, the APF 5’ Poodle, wearing a pink TuTu, was stolen during tear-down of the show, Sunday, March 6, 2011.
You may ask yourself why we just didn’t replace her. All of the circus dogs were created by an artist. We had a contract with the artist to make several new ones for this year’s show, and gave him a $750 deposit. We have not heard from him since, so had no way of replacing her.
We know who stole her but are satisfied that she has been returned, due to the efforts of Angela Kumpe and Lori Craig, who are our heroes. |
Angela Kumpe |
|
| |
As to what happened to her:
1. Someone took her from her circus drum platform at the close of the show.
2. She spent the night in their room at the Hilton Sunday evening.
3. She was wrapped in a huge black plastic garbage bag. |
 |
|
| |
Broken Stand |
4. Her tail, leg, and stand were broken off in transit.
5. Wanting to return her, they named her Fifi and established a FaceBook page for her under the name FiFi Stafford.
6. They chose friends of mine to become friends of hers.
7. My friends became her friends and responded to her posts. |
Broken Tail |
|
| |
8. Fifi then attempted to set up interviews with Groomer To Groomer and Groomer’s Lounge.
9. She asked Sandy Blackburn to have a photo taken in front of her shop and send it to her, so she could be photoshopped in.
10. She asked for me to confirm her as a friend, which I was not aware of until last Wednesday, while in route to Intergroom.
11. Upon arrival at Intergroom, Angela and Lori advised that they knew who stole her and were working behind the scenes to have that person return her to us at the show. |
| |
Poor Fifi
|
12. She was dumped off on Monday, near the close of the show, in the parking lot under the Convention Center. She was wrapped in a huge black plastic garbage bag and left in a parking space. All that was visible was part of her pink feather boa.
13. I could not bring myself to unwrap her until we got her back to our APF offices, but I could tell that she had damage. Her tail and stand, including part of her leg, were broken off. She is made of styrofoam. |
|
| |
Surgical Pins |
14. My trusty assistant, Tiffany, and I laid her on our library table, and carefully cut the bag.
15. With long pins, duct tape, and strong glue, we carefully repaired her. The damage can be seen, but she is standing in the APF Reception Area, and will return to the APF in 2012! |
Tape |
|
| |
The moral of this story?
Taking things that don’t belong to you at Trade Shows is Theft. Ultimately all attendees pay for it when Show Producers and Vendors have to raise prices to factor in losses, and . . . it’s just WRONG! |
| |
 |
I'm Back!!!
See You In 2012.... |
|
| |
| More Fifi Photos |