Rescues are a great choice!

[jys1011]

First my disclaimer: I love BRAT & am a strong supporter both financially and personally. They are a great organization!!

I was turned away a couple of times to rescue one of their dogs because I do not have an enclosed yard and because I had not owned a Basenji before. Although I have owned two other types of dogs. On the experience part, ok…I can see that now that I DO own two B's they are very different dogs

However on the yard issue...I'm not sure that I agree with having to have an enclosed yard. I COMPLETELY understand you can not let any basenji out off leash in an open yard. We do have other ways of exercising our dogs...we go for long runs, we play in enclosed dog parks & tennis courts & we also use long leads to work around not having an enclosed yard.

My point is you do not have to have an enclosed yard...there are ways around it to exercise your dog.

Nevertheless I understand their thoroughness & the need to make sure dogs are cared for properly.

[Duke]

Before adopting Daisy, I applied to BRAT. I wanted an adult female Basenji to elude house training (for me) and give a nice home to one in need. Within 1 day, they flat out rejected my application due to the electric fence. OK then . . .

[nobarkus]

When I got my rescue years ago he came from a local rescue breeder and she was not that strict. I know he had gone to a family with children and he was not in a very good mind set and they returned him. He was aggressive and bit my other B the second day. He never bit any kids while I had him. Now if a Basenji has just lost it's home, maybe bounced around, it will not be in the best state of mind. It's not a machine but a living creature with feelings and the real Basenji, which may be a very good one, will take some time to come out with work and patience. BRAT needs to really look at that and the environment it's going to. It's a case by case basis. Not 1 rule applies to every Basenji. I don't think not having a fence should equal you're not getting a Basenji. I'll tell you I've had Basenjis escape out of fenced in yards. Digging under or breaking the fence slates with their teeth. We had a good neighbor fence that had 2" x 3/8" thick slats and that dog broke a few and slipped through.
Just like children. What's the dogs state of mind? How old are the children? What are the temperments of the kids? Are the parents capable of close and continual supervision while the B adjusts?
Remember we were all first time owners at one time. Right?

[Mantis]

Ha, well I found Beta from Petfinder.com because one of the 2 (state I live in) Brat people was snobby to me because I had my boy as a puppy and made me feel like I wasnt good enough to have a rescue. She would talk to me as if I didnt have a clue and couldnt possibly understand anything. The other Brat person is wonderful.

They were both indoor dogs only and were great! I am a dog parker every weekend, but they were in great shape.

It is great to have basenji lovers involved in the adoption so you can learn about the dog's needs. Beta was a lot more work than I had anticipated. It took me 2 of her 4 years with us to potty train her and her stop the seperation anxiety and fear of sounds….but she did relax into a happy girl.
I am thankful that I had the experience with Caesar first before adopting her. It was difficult, but I put the time and energy in and it was well worth it!

[tanza]

Again, I just want to say that BRAT is a great org… and does a great job.... my comments are totally based on their sometime "not" looking at the entire picture and expecting people to all fall into the same requirements. They many times do not look outside the "box"

[lvoss]

This goes back to the discussion in another thread about "always" and "never" lists for placements. IMO placements work out best when each home is considered as an individual case instead of using a checklist method. For an organization that screens hundreds of homes, a checklist method is easier though it can quickly alienate good people.

Some of the criteria that use to exclude a potential adopter I disagree with. My personal experience is that someone who does not have access to a fenced yard will have to give the dog attention because the dog must be walked to be pottied where some people with a fenced yard will just throw dog in the back yard and never interact with the dog. It takes good screening to know what impact having a fenced yard will have on the dog. Everyone who owns a basenji was a first time basenji owner at some point so turning someone down strictly based on that fact is the most ludricrous of policies. The list goes on but the bottom line is that it takes more time and manpower to treat each applicant as an individual than to use a checklist to exclude applicants.

[ChristyRutherford]

I adopted from BRAT on Feb 2nd 2005 and it was an amazing experience. I credit it most to my "adoption agent" Virginia. I was a 27yo single gal who was getting ready to move into my house on Feb 1st. I had a 3.5 ft high pickett fence around my very small yard– and it was just me and my 2 cats. She gave me the benefit of the doubt and came for a house visit in either september or October. I was still working on the house and had no carpet, no chairs and dust everywhere. She met my parents and boyfriend (who were helping that day) and stayed for quite awhile getting to know me and warning me about basenjis. She gave me literature to read and websites to look up.
When she found the perfect dog (for me) she called to let me know we would be picking him up (he went straight from his home to mine) on the 2nd of November.
Virginia has been so wonderful and we still talk about once every few weeks. She has helped me get envolved in transporting for BRAT and someday homevisits and fostering.
I loved my experience, but it helped having an agent who believed in me and got to know me.
My Squiggy was 3.5yo when I got him and he is, as I have said before, far from perfect but perfect for me (most of the time).

[luzmery928]

I adopted my B from perfinders.com. It was just something meant to be becuase i had never heard of Basenji's before and when we met him all we went by was the fact that we loved him at first sight and he seemed very taken by us too. Well it's been some hectic, crazy, but amazingly wonderful these past 3 months. I wonder what it would be like to get another B since our Champ loves playing with other dogs except he likes to play bite a whole lot and I don't think it's good to bring another furry companion in that can't handle such play. I would only consider another B simply because I am spoiled and can no longer stand all the barking and whining that comes with other breeds. But we would liike to give him a brother or sister. Do all B's play bite this way if so I would really consider adopting again.

[Quercus]

@ChristyRutherford:

I adopted from BRAT on Feb 2nd 2005 and it was an amazing experience. I credit it most to my "adoption agent" Virginia. I was a 27yo single gal who was getting ready to move into my house on Feb 1st. I had a 3.5 ft high pickett fence around my very small yard– and it was just me and my 2 cats. She gave me the benefit of the doubt and came for a house visit in either september or October. I was still working on the house and had no carpet, no chairs and dust everywhere. She met my parents and boyfriend (who were helping that day) and stayed for quite awhile getting to know me and warning me about basenjis. She gave me literature to read and websites to look up.
When she found the perfect dog (for me) she called to let me know we would be picking him up (he went straight from his home to mine) on the 2nd of November.
Virginia has been so wonderful and we still talk about once every few weeks. She has helped me get envolved in transporting for BRAT and someday homevisits and fostering.
I loved my experience, but it helped having an agent who believed in me and got to know me.
My Squiggy was 3.5yo when I got him and he is, as I have said before, far from perfect but perfect for me (most of the time).

Christy makes a good point. I think that the "adoption agents" or whatever their title is, can and do make their own guidlines for what is acceptable (just as breeders do). Some are very exclusive, and some are more flexible.

[Quercus]

<<when i="" got="" my="" rescue="" years="" ago="" he="" came="" from="" a="" local="" breeder="" and="" she="" was="" not="" that="" strict.="">>

Nobarkus, what is a rescue breeder? I am not familiar with that term….</when>

[nobarkus]

That was in 1994 and from what I understand they don't have rescue breeders any more. A rescue breeder was a breeder who took on the responsibility of taking in unwanted Basenjis that were local to find them homes. Hence the term rescue.

[Quercus]

@nobarkus:

That was in 1994 and from what I understand they don't have rescue breeders any more. A rescue breeder was a breeder who took on the responsibility of taking in unwanted Basenjis that were local to find them homes. Hence the term rescue.

Hmmm…there are quite a few breeders that are active in rescue in the BCOA...the Basenji Club of Southeastern Wisconsin pops to mind quickly...they have an active rescue group. In fact, I can think of quite a few breeders that are actively rescuing, and fostering dogs...so that must be the same kind of thing? I had just never heard that before.

[tanza]

The Basenji club of Northern California years ago before Insurance problems had our own rescue program, and Margaret Hoff ran the program for many a year until she passed away, it was not for breeders, but for any Basenji in No. California, breeders within the club still took care of their own dogs, but if Margaret had possible homes, she would pass on the names. Our breeders that are club members still engage in rescue of their own dogs. As a club we do not do rescue because we would have lost our insurance riders.

[drummamamma]

HI all. I also got my Basenji from a rescue in Southern California. I got him as a puppy and there was 5 in the litter. He is a great dog and we love him dearly. Just keep them busy busy busy. We have 2 rescued dogs one was full grown the other a pup and they are both truly wonderful dogs.

[MaxBooBooBear]

@drummamamma:

HI all. I also got my Basenji from a rescue in Southern California. I got him as a puppy and there was 5 in the litter. He is a great dog and we love him dearly. Just keep them busy busy busy. We have 2 rescued dogs one was full grown the other a pup and they are both truly wonderful dogs.

Hi, drummamamma, did you get your puppy from Karen and Chuck who have a basenji rescue in Southern CA? I recently adopted Tyler and Zoey from them.

[Mantis]

I adopted my B from perfinders.com. It was just something meant to be becuase i had never heard of Basenji's before and when we met him all we went by was the fact that we loved him at first sight and he seemed very taken by us too. Well it's been some hectic, crazy, but amazingly wonderful these past 3 months. I wonder what it would be like to get another B since our Champ loves playing with other dogs except he likes to play bite a whole lot and I don't think it's good to bring another furry companion in that can't handle such play. I would only consider another B simply because I am spoiled and can no longer stand all the barking and whining that comes with other breeds. But we would liike to give him a brother or sister. Do all B's play bite this way if so I would really consider adopting again.

Multiple basenjis are wonderful. They will play together and burn up the extra energy that you may not have in the evening for them. I adopted my second (a rescue)when my first hit 1-1/2 years old. He was out of the chew biting and started to become destructive because i couldnt play all evening. I adopted a rescue girl who was the same age and they were great friends. The did have their scuffles, but so do kids.

I would strongly recommend going through basic obedience before adopting a second basenji. It will really helps you communicate your terms. Once your single b understands the rules, then a second will follow the first one's behaviors.

If you have an opportunity to bring a second basenji into your family I strongly recommend it. 2 basenjis will play differently that you do and they are so happy running and boxing and mouthing.

I felt it was a great combination to have the two the same age and that was what I looked for. Their play level was the same. Two was not harder than 1 in any way.

BRAT is a fantastic resource because you can really learn about each dog and take your time to find the perfect basenji for you.

I let my basenji boy tell me that my rescue girl was the one for him. He loved her the moment he met her. Licked her face at first meeting and they were inseperable. They slept together on the couch the first day I brought her home.

[vstripe]

I too am a proud owner of a rescue basenji!
I stumbled across his picture on petfinder one day and said to my boyfriend Brian there is a basenji at Pet Orphans (all breed rescue in Van Nuys)! So we went over for a visit and he looked a little ruff on the edges under weight, dull coat, a little dandruff, puppymill"ish looking and about two years old. I was a little apprehensive at first, Brian on the other hand feel in love the first second. He said to me I have had basenjis for years now and I know this one is special. We took the little guy home and the rescue was hassle free we didnt have to deal with twenty million questions or home checks it was great. I beleve there is a basenji lover working there because after I have noticed they have had a few other pure B's and cute B mixes. We knew we were in love with how cute he was but we never imagined how well behaved, sweet, and easy going this little dog turned out to be. From the B's that have been in the family, one from a pet store,two from breeders, and our rescue the rescue has been the best behaved, best temperment, and the most well rounded out of them all. Everyday He puts a smile on my face and joy in my heart. I love my rescue.