Post by DiamondTiger on Jun 4, 2009 7:59:19 GMT -5
My little sister called me last night on her way to the emergency room. My dad had passed out in a gas station parking lot and was being taken to the hospital in Fort Smith Arkansas. This is the second time he's passed out and been rushed to the ER in 2 weeks. He is diabetic, has high blood pressure, has had quadruple bypass surgery (about 10 yrs ago) and is about to start dialysis. Right now his kidney's are still functioning, but the doctors are taking measures to get him ready for dialysis because they know it's just a matter of time (days).
My dad has 7 Basenji's that I need to help him make plans for now, before the time comes when he can't care for them. He LOVES his dogs and it breaks his heart to think of sending even one of them away, but he also knows that finding a place for them now is in their best interest. He does have one girl that he will keep. Isis. She is 12 years old now, but you seriously wouldn't know it if you met her... you'd think she was a young dog by her energy. His wish, if Isis outlives him, is to have her put to sleep when he dies and he wants her buried with him. I can respect that and I'll do it because this dog is his sweet heart, they've been together for a long time (8 yrs) and they've been through A LOT together.
Now admittedly, my dad isn't the best pet guardian in the world; none of the dogs are spayed/neutered and he has bred a couple of litters. I won't make excuses for him here. I've talked to him about this and he insists he's only done this because people have asked him for puppies. He only breeds when he's got homes lined up in advance for pups. (Still no excuse if ya ask me because he hasn't done things the way *I* would think to be acceptable, but he's tried.) Anyway, so yeah... he's got 7 of these dogs... mostly because people either backed out on him after they were born or because folks took them and realized what a handful of responsibility comes with sharing your home with a Basenji and they've been returned.
We're not sure how much longer my dad has left and it's getting harder for him to care for his dogs the way they need and after talking with him last night, he agreed to let me try to find a place for his dogs to go where they will be cared for and only placed with people who understand and appreciate the breed and will care for them and love them like he does.
He's in Oklahoma and I'm researching rescues now and will be contacting everyone that I can find. I want to know that they are reputable rescues and that if they can take the dogs, they will do right by them.
Do any of you know of an org or even a private individual who rescues Basenji's and knows the breed well? Dad wants me to take one of his girls and I'll talk to Brad about it, but I'm really not sure because I KNOW what these dogs are all about and honestly I don't know that I have what it takes to be a good guardian for a Basenji. I don't know that I have the patience or energy for a Basenji... they're a lot like pit bulls in that they're smart and funny and energetic and loveable, but SO very different too and most of all they are stubborn as you know what!
If you don't what a Basenji is, as a lot of people still don't... here ya go.
They are BEAUTIFUL little dogs... known best as being "barkless". They rarely bark, some never do... but they yodel. They are hard headed, very intelligent, friendly and LOYAL. They are full of courage and won't back down from anything. They're trainable, but training is a chore. They have an uncanny ability to train their people and make you think you trained them. They're FUNNY and I do love them... when I can play with them and send them home (or leave myself). They are the type of dog that WILL remember the wrongs you've committed against them (in their minds) and they will get back at you for it. I scolded Isis one time and she waited all day for me to come home from work, then she looked at me, snubbed me and calmly walked into my bedroom - climbed onto my dresser and took my favorite pair of sunglasses down and proceeded to chew them to pieces in front of me... all the while looking at me like "What are you gonna do about it huh?" When I went to take the glasses from her, she dodged me and the game of chase was "on!" as far as she was concerned. She only brought them back to me, in pieces, after she got bored and irritated at me for not chasing her.
Okay, so what does a Basenji look like?
Isis is GORGEOUS! She's a tri-color doll, like this dog here:
My dad's dog Fritz looks like this:
And he's got a few fawn/red dogs too that look like this:
My dad has 7 Basenji's that I need to help him make plans for now, before the time comes when he can't care for them. He LOVES his dogs and it breaks his heart to think of sending even one of them away, but he also knows that finding a place for them now is in their best interest. He does have one girl that he will keep. Isis. She is 12 years old now, but you seriously wouldn't know it if you met her... you'd think she was a young dog by her energy. His wish, if Isis outlives him, is to have her put to sleep when he dies and he wants her buried with him. I can respect that and I'll do it because this dog is his sweet heart, they've been together for a long time (8 yrs) and they've been through A LOT together.
Now admittedly, my dad isn't the best pet guardian in the world; none of the dogs are spayed/neutered and he has bred a couple of litters. I won't make excuses for him here. I've talked to him about this and he insists he's only done this because people have asked him for puppies. He only breeds when he's got homes lined up in advance for pups. (Still no excuse if ya ask me because he hasn't done things the way *I* would think to be acceptable, but he's tried.) Anyway, so yeah... he's got 7 of these dogs... mostly because people either backed out on him after they were born or because folks took them and realized what a handful of responsibility comes with sharing your home with a Basenji and they've been returned.
We're not sure how much longer my dad has left and it's getting harder for him to care for his dogs the way they need and after talking with him last night, he agreed to let me try to find a place for his dogs to go where they will be cared for and only placed with people who understand and appreciate the breed and will care for them and love them like he does.
He's in Oklahoma and I'm researching rescues now and will be contacting everyone that I can find. I want to know that they are reputable rescues and that if they can take the dogs, they will do right by them.
Do any of you know of an org or even a private individual who rescues Basenji's and knows the breed well? Dad wants me to take one of his girls and I'll talk to Brad about it, but I'm really not sure because I KNOW what these dogs are all about and honestly I don't know that I have what it takes to be a good guardian for a Basenji. I don't know that I have the patience or energy for a Basenji... they're a lot like pit bulls in that they're smart and funny and energetic and loveable, but SO very different too and most of all they are stubborn as you know what!
If you don't what a Basenji is, as a lot of people still don't... here ya go.
They are BEAUTIFUL little dogs... known best as being "barkless". They rarely bark, some never do... but they yodel. They are hard headed, very intelligent, friendly and LOYAL. They are full of courage and won't back down from anything. They're trainable, but training is a chore. They have an uncanny ability to train their people and make you think you trained them. They're FUNNY and I do love them... when I can play with them and send them home (or leave myself). They are the type of dog that WILL remember the wrongs you've committed against them (in their minds) and they will get back at you for it. I scolded Isis one time and she waited all day for me to come home from work, then she looked at me, snubbed me and calmly walked into my bedroom - climbed onto my dresser and took my favorite pair of sunglasses down and proceeded to chew them to pieces in front of me... all the while looking at me like "What are you gonna do about it huh?" When I went to take the glasses from her, she dodged me and the game of chase was "on!" as far as she was concerned. She only brought them back to me, in pieces, after she got bored and irritated at me for not chasing her.Okay, so what does a Basenji look like?
Isis is GORGEOUS! She's a tri-color doll, like this dog here:
My dad's dog Fritz looks like this:
And he's got a few fawn/red dogs too that look like this:
I look forward to learning much here