How to Evaluate a Basenji Rescue

[tanza]

@sharronhurlbut:

Good threat Jason.
Thanks for asking the question.

LOL Sharron… would that be Thread, not threat!!!!

[sharronhurlbut]

LOL, can you tell I have NOT had enough coffee!

[AJs Human]

Is there such a thing as "enough" coffee?

[Basenjimamma]

It is if your basenji gets ahold of it…:D:D

[nobarkus]

@Basenjimamma:

It is if your basenji gets ahold of it…:D:D

I used to give my rw a coffee bean now and then and he'd take in the dining room and roll around on it like a cat does on cat nip then eat it.

[Miranda]

@LizNewton:

I have been a BRAT foster home for several years and hosted many basenjis. There is no limit on how long a basenji will be fostered and depends completely on the dog's needs and the availability of a suitable adopter when the dog is ready to move on. I have adopted two fosters who were both here longer than normal due to health issues. A foster home in MO frequently ends up with basenjis who have serious health or behavior problems. They have lots of room on their farm so can manage several basenjis at once although the work is demanding, sometimes overwhelming. Currently they have 9 fosters and have adopted others who were deemed to be unqualified for other placements due to age or other problems. Two fosters have been with them for 4years. BRAT will have a dog PTS if it is suffering from physical illness or too aggressive to be placed. If they are old, have Fanconi or other manageable illnesses they may remain in a foster home until they die a natural death. We always need more foster homes.

My apologies to people who read this before, it disappeared once, so I am reposting it. Hopefully this explanation will stick, so I don't continue to look like a moron who posts the same things over and over again.

It has to be a tough decision to make to house a dog indefinitely. Knowing that there are limited funds being used for veterinary fees, and limited number of foster spaces being used for dogs that will never be suitable to be adopted. It would feel like a no-win situation to have to make a decision like this.

Miranda

[sharronhurlbut]

I went to a dog training class last week. They talked about shelter dogs, not dogs in foster homes, but there is a point to be made. The quality of life of the dog, in no kill shelters should be considered, as well at their health. The trainer said keeping dogs in cages, until they went into spinning mode was not a kindness.
I agree.
While foster dogs in homes have a good quality of life, what happens to the social b's who are not being taken in, because a foster home is full of a dog who will probably not be rehomed? This post is not directed at any specific rescue group, as I am a helper in 3
different rescue groups.
I think we need to evaluate the dogs who need homes with their ability to BE rehomed.

[Miranda]

Obviously this problem plagues lots of rescue organizations.

I just spotted this

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/102894/Killing_Oreo_the_miracle_dog

So sad, but really, what can be done?

[sharronhurlbut]

Its heartbreaking and its the reality.
Imagine, they did all this work on this dog, put the dog through all the training and the dog is still a risk to the public.
THEY made the hard decision. They gave the dog every chance and they did what was right. They put the dog down.
NO one goes into rescue or IMO shelter work to kill animals. BUT the reality is, without a home for every dog who comes in, some have do die. SOME good dogs do, and that is what really breaks my heart. The class I went to last week, this woman has a shelter in the N.E. of the country. She goes down to the south and evals dogs to take back if they are adoptable and helps shelters who have NO training on what to look for re dogs and aggression, learn to see what she showed us. Some shelters fill up with aggressive dogs, and they keep them there, and let social animals, who would make good pets, be put down.
Its tough. Some folks work to learn what to see re dogs and behaviors, and some folks who just like the looks of a dog pretty but damaged want to keep it for the "perfect" home.
I so wish I had some answers to this. Still this country has too many unwanted unplanned litters from those who don't want to improve the breed than there are homes for them.

[AJs Human]

"Still this country has too many unwanted unplanned litters from those who don't want to improve the breed than there are homes for them."

Which is exactly why I am such a vocal proponent of spay/neuter. But I still don't want the government involved.

[sharronhurlbut]

Getting the gov. involved won't do anything but hurt the legal folks.
Just look at byb who go over the "legal" limit for ownership of animals in their care, or
horders, who don't do even legal mandated care…
Its going to take education and spay/neuter of any animal who leaves a shelter.
It's going to take years...I only hope I see it in my lifetime.