Pam is having issues posting so asked me to post for her:
From Pam:
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
[The Florida rescue does NOT only place Fanconi-free dog]
Should we just euthanize all Fanconi-affected dogs all instead of placing KNOWN Fanconi-affected basenjis? What kind of rescue would we be? Should all basenjis with hypothyroidism also be euthanized? Fanconi, caught early and properly managed, can potentially cost less than hypothyroidism and have less of an impact on a basenji with hypothyroidism.
[They have bought into an as yet unproven theory of early detection of the disease.]
Should we bury our heads in the sand - buyer beware? We haven't created them by breeding, but they have become our 'babies' by coming into our rescue. We will provide the best available at the current point in time. We can't stand to know that some of our previous babies are not getting treatment NOW that COULD be preventing greater symptoms later. By testing first (and yes, we will also do and have done venous blood gas testing if there is any tiny concern) and making sure that all potential adopters are VERY aware of what is involved with Fanconi, our basenjis stand a better chance at a trouble-free life. Note that ALL of our basenjis are also MICROCHIPPED, so that Fanconi status can follow them wherever they may be.
[They also provide very little information as to costs of adoption, ]
This is a rescue, not a pet store selling puppies. The adoption fee for 'straightforward' dogs are posted with the dogs. There will be dogs that are bonded or have special needs that will require a more negotiable approach.
[and list the dogs under a personal Facebook account. ]
Should we spend money on ISPs and special accounts rather than spending it on the dogs? We do have a FaceBook page set up for Camp Basenji and are in the process of transitioning everything to that. We had to start somewhere. We are a NEW group working hard to get everything in place while putting the highest priority on the health and safety of basenjis.
[As an accountant who has worked closely with tax-exempt organizations for over 15 years, I have serious issues with a web site soliciting "donations" which not only hasn't received even preliminary 501(3) recognition, ]
I don't understand the issue here, as long as there is truth in discloser. Non-profits need to get started somehow. We have clearly indicated to everyone, including those that have offered donations without any solicitation, that we have applied for but have not yet received our 501c3 recognition. We are clearly non-profit, unless you think someone would pay $3000 (yes, three thousand dollars) of vetting costs of just one dog accepted into our rescue (a request submitted by a vet in an ER "Please or I will have to euthanize him") - the basenji's adoption fee was $200 - and his new owners are very thankful that we saved his adorable life - he is a gem in more ways than one. We will be a long way from breaking even this year, even if donations are included. Unfortunately, there will always be vetting expenses well beyond sterilizing, vaccinating, microchipping and DNA testing.
[but also fails to provide information on the organization's board ]
The board and organizational information is publicly available with the corporate filing. It will be updated as we grow and have time to officially add on new members. It will be added to the website when there is time. Taking care of basenjis being dumped and building a knowledgable vet database has been a higher priority with our limited time.
[and intermixes personal with the charity. ]
I'm not sure where the issue is here. Charity is personal. My Facebook activity has been almost exclusively focused on basenjis - it is the only reason I signed up for Facebook. I am NOT getting paid to help basenjis. As a matter of fact, I have spent thousands of dollars helping them. My only payments are the contentment shown by basenjis that learn to relax in my care and the gratitude expressed by adopters and even owners that have found a way to keep their basenjis by incorporating new ideas. It is all very personal.
_
We do coordinate with BRAT to see if there are good matches nearby for adopters, but we don't force an adopter to take a dog from either organization. A basenji has to be wanted and to be the right fit. We are not forcing anyone to recommend us nor are we going to be bound by arbitrary state lines.
[My question would be why a young female? Is the intent to produce puppies? ]
If the individual gets a dog from either Camp Basenji or BRAT, she will be spayed. We often have applicants that indicate a preference for a younger basenji, but find that many applicants will consider whatever basenji is the best fit, even if it is older.
We are volunteers with jobs and families who are working hard to set up a new organization to fill a particular need while taking care of many fosters and establishing a broader database of vetting options than is currently available. We are also going to great lengths to make sure that the most current information regarding Fanconi is available to vets who may have basenjis as clients. I don't understand why anyone would take offense to what we are doing.<<_