Wild pack of basenjis in rural Florida

[MacPack]

Hi Ginny, Welcome to Forum!

[sharronhurlbut]

Welcome, we look forward to your input.

[sharronhurlbut]

Greetings!

Sorry that it has been such a long time since our last update - we've been a bit busy here in FL! Here's the latest:

As of Thursday, all basenjis have physically been released from HCAS (they delivered!). Moms and pups are still HCAS-ownership dogs until they have been spayed and neutered. The adults are decompressing here in Basenji-Town after a month and a half in isolation in cement runs that amplified the sounds of constantly barking dogs. They are visibly more relaxed, though the fearful ones obviously are going to take much more time to believe that humans are really good. They definitely became accustomed to having a heated floor at HCAS - they do not appreciate the unusually cold temperatures we've been having in FL. Crates provided by BCOA (THANK YOU for your generosity!) are beginning to arrive and will be appreciated by the basenjis who'd like a den in their kennel runs. While they are out during the day, their routine includes moving inside every night. They are getting pretty good at following directions. The five five-month-old pups that were doing so well with socialization at HCAS are in three different foster homes (Susan, Jeanetta and Erin are foster moms) and are all doing well. While they will generally be more timid than the younger pups, they are already suitable for placing in the right forever homes.

The dynamics have changed with the adults and older shy pups - they are back in a more pack-like setting, able to see each other and visit through rigid wire kennels, though they remain separated while I get to know who is okay with whom. Unlike what we generally expect in basenji-world, the male-male aggression is much greater than the female-female aggression. Many of the females really seem to enjoy each other's company - the first two moms I've been fostering play together, sleep together, mother orphan pups together, etc. Most of the dogs now whimper in anticipation when they see me coming. All Wimauma basenjis are beginning to soften towards human males (early at HCAS, staff had noted how threatened all of the basenjis were by the male staff, so most required interaction was with female staff). Backed by the power of the pack, the male basenjis were more aggressive towards men when they first arrived. Regular treats by John and Chris (my dad and my husband) are winning them over.

I've had help from Jeanetta and Jacquie from Tampa when the basenjis first arrived and the routine was a bit more labor-intensive. The basenjis have settled into an easier routine, so my workload is finally easing a bit. We will be ready for visitors to come in for more socialization shortly, to be followed by moving many of the adults into foster homes further north. I know Anne and Donald miss the kids at HCAS and are eager to work with the adults. These basenjis have some really neat personalities. It is great to see them blossoming. All of the adults will play with toys and/or each other, though the most shy of the lot will stop if they realize a human is watching…

Everyone in the nursery is doing quite well. The nine oldest pups are ready to place soon. Their ears are starting to go up again, though there is one whose ears are starting to go down again as his ears have hit another growth spurt. Now that they are getting older and bigger, I can see more of a difference in sizes. There are three "smalls," five "mediums" and one "large." There were three lactating females when they were first brought into HCAS, so these sizes may be an indication of three litters all born within a couple of weeks of each other. Koka, who was initially a very defensive mom, has become quite eager to get some rubbing and scratching. Her seven pups are very plump (Koka has an enormous supply of milk...) and are just starting to walk around a bit. They are about 4 weeks old and have an unusual variety of beautiful coat colors. Keondra was initially fairly fearful of humans at HCAS, but now accepts attention quite well. She is still very submissive towards humans and usually prefers to follow when on leash - it seems strange to not be dragged around by a basenji... Her nine pups are just a couple of weeks old. They appear to all be tris and are just beginning to open their eyes. Kenyatta's four surviving pups are doing great - against the odds! At three weeks old, they are plump with eyes wide open and beginning to stagger around. One is a beautiful tri with a fair amount of white - will she have a blue eye or two? The coats on the other three are changing.

Unfortunately, Kenyatta's pups will be forever orphaned. We had to humanely euthanize Kenyatta Saturday. She had been plagued by serious health problems for some time. Late Friday night, her vomit became very dark and foul, prompting me to take her in early Saturday. Unfortunately, one of the issues may have been ulcers. She had a rupture along her intestinal tract, resulting in waste being dumped into her torso. There was significant scarring of her tract, so much that the exit scarred shut. She was so incredibly stoic throughout her time with us. Palpations should have prompted a significant, negative, defensive reaction from her - she never even flinched. She is no longer suffering - waiting patiently for us at the bridge. My vet, Dr. Rumore, was kind enough to do a necropsy that confirmed her condition - we made the right decision. At least she received a lot of love and comfort in her last weeks. Her exceptional personality prompted more help from HCAS vet services than they can usually give to most dogs that pass through - she received their first successful transfusion! She became part pit bull, receiving blood from an ambassador pit bull named Cherry.

As always, we appreciate everyone's moral and monetary support. Anyone wishing to make a donation towards this rescue project may do so through this link:

http://basenjirescue.org/donations/FLBasenjisDonation.asp

Pam Hamilton
FL District Coordinator
Advisory Director
Basenji Rescue and Transport

Debbi Johnson
BRAT Treasurer & Director
Germantown, TN

[sharronhurlbut]

Hi, everyone,

I was notified that the link to the donation page that I included in today's
update was not a good link. I apologize. Here is the correct link:

http://basenjirescue.org/donations/FLBasenjisDonation.asp

You can also go to BRAT's home page www.basenjirescue.org , scroll down to
the lower left corner to the pictures of the two pups, and click on the link
under the picture.

Sincerely,

Debbi Johnson
BRAT Treasurer & Director
Germantown, TN
debbijbasenjirescue@comcast.net

[abreaze]

Hi, this is my first post, although I've been lurking around reading for a while. My husband and I became interested in Basenjis when we adopted a half Basenji/half Sheltie last year. Fido is a wonderful dog and looks just like a red and white B. with short hair,tail curl, up ears, wrinkled forehead and all. Just a narrow Sheltie face. I have worked with animal rescue groups for years and thought I would apply to be a Basenji foster. We went through the application process and home visit, never expecting that there might be a puppy available. This was before we got word of the Wimauma dogs.

Long story short, I got the call from Debbi Johnson two nights ago and my dog loving husband Mark and I drove up to Seminole from Sarasota to Pam Hamilton's yesterday. We spent a wonderful afternoon visiting all the wonderful Bs. Pam is a miracle worker. A much younger, prettier version of a Basenji Mother Teresa! We spent some time with the older shyer dogs first, helping them get used to strangers, offering treats and talking to them. They are very wary but you can see how well they respond to Pam. Then we got to see the first batch of older puppies. Well, there are no words to describe how beautiful, healthy and full of vitality they are.

Pam then brought out the younger ones. Oh those babies tug at your heart strings. Each one more adorable than the other. They are also shiny and bouncing bundles of joy.

When it came time to chose a forever pup I was torn. An older boy was a favorite, but we had wanted a girl. I would have had to wait another 3 or 4 weeks for an available girl. Finally, (after changing my mind several times) we chose Jabu, a stunning tri male with a charming "laid back dude" sort of personality.

He slept in my lap on the way home while my husband Mark drove. Fido loved him right away and showed him around the yard and house. Roxie, our 15 year old chi/doxie is more grumpy, but accepting. The cats are curious and Jabu seems to think that they are "alien dogs".

Last night we took Jabu out for his first walk on a leash, with Fido. Jabu just didn't know what to do and sat down in the street until Seymour the cat came up and just led him along. We were in hysterics.

He slept like an angel in his crate and pottied outside like a champ. We are in love with him already and he fits right into our family.

Pam Hamilton is a remarkable woman and I can't say enough about how much she is doing for these dogs.

Sorry this is so long, I know I am gushing.
I've put pictures in an album on the site if you can get to them.

Looking forward to being part of the "Basenji family"

Annette
Sarasota, FL

[jonny b.]

That is a WONDERFUL story. Thank you for sharing. enjoy and God bless.

[Basenjimamma]

I agree with JohnnyB..what a wonderful story..lucky you.. I hope to see lots of pictures..soon.

[sharronhurlbut]

Oh, please gush all you want…I can't wait to see the photos.
This little boy b is very lucky to have landed in your home.
Hugs

[agilebasenji]

Thanks for sharing the story, now please share some photos!

[abreaze]

Hi everyone,

I have posted some pictures in my album. If you click on my name (abreaze) a drop down menu should appear. Click on "View public profile" and it should take you to my page where you can access my album. If you hover your curser over each picture you should see a caption.
Let me know if this works.

Having fun this beautiful day with my little pack.

A.

[Kipawa]

Jabu is a handsome young dude. Thank goodness for the rescue of these dogs. Hopefully they will all find good homes.

[sharronhurlbut]

Great photos. I hope all of these b's get loving homes.

[MacPack]

Congratulations! Jabu is darling and lucky to have you for his forever home.

[sharronhurlbut]

Check out the new thread re Fl BRAT puppies needing homes.
Maybe there is one for you???

[Triciaw]

@MacPack:

Here is the mahogany colored female, Kizzie, with green-gold eyes…stunning!

Well, thanks to this thread (dont know how I missed the story in the news), we visited Pam and the rescued Basenji's today. We brought our 10 year old basenji with us, and we all had a blast. We decided to adopt Kizzie and give her the loving home she deserves. We recently lost a beagle of 10 years and our basenji has been so lost without "her beagle". My wife and I love animals, have been married 21 years, and have no kids, so our animals have always been our kids. They are spoiled just as much as any of our friends or relatives kids, and we enjoy doing it. We are ready for the unique challenge that awaits us. Our goal is to get Kizzy comfortable enough that she want to go out in the boat with us, as we live on the Gulf, and our basenji loves to go boating.
Pam still had at least 1 puppy, a few kids and lots of adults available. My wife would have taken a few more home if I would have agreed.:)

[jonny b.]

God bless you! Enjoy your new family member

[MacPack]

Awesome! I love Kizzie, I worked with her and 4 others while they were still at the shelter. She is gorgeous and was a sweetheart. I haven't sen her in along time and am so glad she found her forever home.

We have a group that gets together in Tampa every Sunday, would love to have you join us once you get her settled. One of the boys in that shelter kid-group was adopted by a Clearwater couple and has come to the park to meet the "big basenji gang" and he did great.

At any rate, big congratulations and maybe we can meet up someday!

[thunderbird8588]

Great news Triciaw, welcome to the forum.
Pics would be great:D