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  • New Basenji Blog

    Off Topic 24 Jan 2011, 16:19
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    Yay, thanks for sharing. I don't see much Basenji action on it yet, but I'll keep a watch on it. Also very interesting to get a UK perspective, too.
  • Happy New Year

    Off Topic 31 Dec 2009, 11:54
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    Happy new year too everyone!!! We're hoping everyone will get what the want out of this new year!!!
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    @MacPack: I recommend rubber-backed area rugs, or you will find them all in a pile against the wall as they skid along….. Anne And watch them closely. After 3 yrs w/Jazzy and 11 mos w/Keoki, they suddenly decided to eat an area rug. Okay, not exactly "eat" it, but they certainly ruined it in a big way. :mad: Why? Why? after all that time? :confused: :confused: Because they are Basenjis.:p
  • New Puppies

    Off Topic 9 Aug 2007, 23:22
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    @dmcarty: OK this is where lots of people will get realy realy mad at me but I'm going to say it anyway. While I appreciate desire and any rescue or raid the puppy mill groups desire to save some animals in deplorable conditions - I keep coming back to the phrase, "unintended consequences". Because dogs were purchased at auction or out of a pet store or some place in deplorable conditions - you have increased the 'market' for that breed of dog. They (PM's) don't care about your kind heart, have little guilt about the conditions they were in - they know the dog was sold. Several years ago many in basenji rescue and BCOA were involved in a horrid situation in Kansas City. Placing a huge number of dogs - now many breeders have not bred in some time because there is no "market' for puppies from reputable breeders - some because they gave up homes that were on their lists to these rescues - some because they've taken in some of these dogs themselves and can't have any more dogs in their house. While it pains me to say this because I do have a heart - I think there is a point where because of our collective 'heart' we are making the problem worse. If there was not a 'market' for these animals - we would not have puppy mills. BTW - the only way you can even think about this is if you don't have your fur-baby on your lap. But do think about it a bit. I understand your stance on the puppy mill but these puppies were actually from the McMinn County Animal Shelter in Athens, TN. The deplorable conditions I described occurred at the shelter and while on transport with the shelter's volunteer to a rescue group. Even though this is a shelter run by a humane society the conditions there we overcrowded, dirty, and no better then a puppy mill. With that said, the volunteers who work there do the best they can with few resources and little or no knowledge about veterinary medicine. They do provide a service when in the month of June over 400 stray and surrendered pets were admitted to the shelter. If you've ever been to a country that lacks a system to deal with stray animals then the importance of such a system is apparent, regardless of the conditions found at the shelter. Who know's where the parents came from but in the south (as in much of the country) we have a large problem with the lack of spay and neutering. I actually paid $0 from the shelter to obtain the pups. Since they were headed for euthanasia the volunteers and animal control officer released them to me so I could provide them with medical care. More than likely these pups were from someones' dogs out in the country who weren't spayed or neutered and probably was allowed to run free. Who knows maybe the parents were from a backyard breeder or puppy mill but I would never advocate for people to pay a large sum of money for a purebred dog instead of a good ol mutt from the pound just because somewhere along the way a relative of that pound puppy might have been from someplace I don't support. Everybody has to make their own decision but I have trouble faulting the shelter and its volunteer workers when its the city, county, and federal government and its representatives who should do a better job providing the funding necessary to train competent workers and provide adequate housing conditions. In a rural county such as McMinn in Tennessee these resources are just not available.
  • Orphan kitten update

    Off Topic 6 Oct 2006, 14:44
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    I have 4 cats. Pic of all 4 on top of my computer desk [image: 4cats_on_bookcase2_sept08.jpg] (L-R Moxie, Tuk, Gypsy, Sherman) Free cats if anyone wants one! lol!
  • Orphan kitten

    Off Topic 2 Sept 2006, 13:05
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    @ChaseandZahrasmom: Robyn, Do you have an update on the kitten? I loved the photos and was curious how she was doing. The kitten has been here about a week and a half. I have to admit that raising this orphan kitten is totally different than I expected. I have raised a few litters of puppies (none orphans though) and by this age, puppies are nearly weaned and are quite playful. This kitten doesn't know how to play yet and I'm puzzled by the difficulty of weaning him. His teeth are mostly in but he has stubbornly refused all of my attempts at switching him to solid food. (Gerber meat baby food, canned kitten food, and moistened dry kitten food are all met with distaste.) He is very healthy and vigorous but he is awfully "runty" looking. Once he gets on a good solid food his growth rate should improve. I moved him to a bigger crate today and put a large, flat metal food dish with a 1" lip in the crate to use as a litter box. Its heavy enough to not flip over and short enough for him to get into easily. Though he has shown no interest, I put a flat bowl of dry kitten food and a heavy crock "hamster" dish in his crate with water. I put a soft fake sheepskin pad in for him to lay on and a couple of toys for him to explore. I let him run around the kitchen and living room a few times a day for exercise. He can run pretty good now and he follows my feet around the house. Oddly though he shows no curiousity towards exploring or playing with anything. Perhaps he is just too young yet? He has a mighty set of lungs on him! He is quite the talkative chap. No need to put a bell on him as I can hear him with every move he makes LOL! Since he has no siblings, I am allowing him to interact with my 3 adult cats. This is a slight risk but I figured that if he was diseased he would be showing signs or be dead by now and he appears to be quite healthy. The kitten is very cute but I still plan to turn him over to a cat rescue group when he's old enough. Unless I find him a home before then that is. :)