• @bensmom:

    That is bittersweet news Vicki. Glad she is adopted but your right, folks that are new to basenji's might be in for a suprise. That was great that you asked her to call you if they return her! Smart thinking 😉

    I am considering writing to BRAT director about this. Being in rescue myself, I can completely understand the words "we are so full", but if you try hard enough you find a way. If a shelter won't let your rescue adopt, find someone to go adopt the pup and then surrender it to the rescue. We have done this in the past and found GREAT homes for our kids.:)

    Where do you see that BRAT said they were too full? BRAT can't possibly be expected to purchase every Basenji that comes through the shelter. Most organizations are hurting now and I am sure BRAT is no exception. If Vicki offered to BRAT to pay the fee and then place the girl through BRAT I am sure they would happily take her up on that offer. I have done that before so I know it is possible. But that is not what happened. Also, if she is in foster care, she is safer from being euthanized and so BRAT doesn't have to step in. BRAT is not the only rescue organization for Basenji's.


  • In the southeast, BRAT is one of the most difficult rescue groups to deal with. In the past six months, I have adopted two basenjis from two different rescue organizations out-of-state thru petfinder.com. The girls are doing beautifully, they are over their quirks, and little issues that so many adopted dogs have. In fact, I own five dogs…all were adopted from bad situations.

    If Kira goes back to the shelter, I'll gladly pay her adoption fee, arrange for transportation, or I'll drive from GA to Amarillo, TX, and bring her home.

    Bensmom. I'll continue to keep in touch with the shelter to see how Kira's placement is working out. The director was very pleased I called and wants only the best for Kira.


  • I am proud to report that today is the tenth anniversary of BRAT’s founding. Basenji Rescue & Transport, Inc. was incorporated on this day back in 1999.

    Since our founding, we have placed approximately 2,200 basenjis in forever homes.

    We now have more than 1300 volunteers and place approximately 300 basenjis every year.

    While we might not make everyone happy, we have done a wonderful job saving and rehoming basenjis.

    No matter what folks like to say, we have done a good job for these dogs.


  • I never noted that "BRAT" said they were to full. I said: "I can understand the word we are so full because I'm in rescue so don't get defensive regarding BRAT. I have no doubt that they are a good rescue. I just asked if they are located in TX why they did not step up and get this girl! Now knowing all the volunteer's they "do" have however, I would expect them to pull every basenji in their area, what would the reason be for not doing it? If your going to toot your own horn be ready for folks to expect you to. Again, I'm not here to BASH the BRAT rescue, I just wanted to know why the could not pull this girl. It is very good to know that they are not the only rescue group for basenji's, I do know though that when trying to find rescue groups in the southeast area for this breed, BRAT is the one that mainly comes up.


  • @bensmom:

    I never noted that "BRAT" said they were to full. I said: "I can understand the word we are so full because I'm in rescue so don't get defensive regarding BRAT. I have no doubt that they are a good rescue. I just asked if they are located in TX why they did not step up and get this girl! Now knowing all the volunteer's they "do" have however, I would expect them to pull every basenji in their area, what would the reason be for not doing it? If your going to toot your own horn be ready for folks to expect you to. Again, I'm not here to BASH the BRAT rescue, I just wanted to know why the could not pull this girl. It is very good to know that they are not the only rescue group for basenji's, I do know though that when trying to find rescue groups in the southeast area for this breed, BRAT is the one that mainly comes up.

    If you are in rescue, than you understand that BRAT is 100% volunteers. you asked a reason for not pulling every basenji in their area. Well if no volunteer in the area has the ability to pull/foster the dog, then how does BRAT pull it? Once they are notified of a dog that needs rescued, they search for a volunteer in the area to pull it and get it into a foster home. The volunteers work hard to find people to pull and foster the dog, but if it gets adopted before BRAT has the capability to pull it, then unfortunately it doesn?t come into BRAT. BRAT cant pull every dog the day it goes into a shelter if they have no where to foster it. for example, I know a BRAT member who tries really hard to get every dog in their area, which has lead to a single person in a condo having 6+ basenjis at a time. There's not much that person can do if they cant find other foster homes and another dog need pulled/fostered.

    Maybe I feel more positively towards BRAT because I adopted my girl from them. And I am not trying to come off as argumentative, just trying to answer your question.


  • Also, Texas is a bad state for dogs, all dogs.
    I understand that puppies are sold at swap meets and long side the road.
    THAT includes b. Course, no spay/neuter requirements and no education re the breeds your getting.
    We can only help the dogs we have foster homes for.
    Can you foster a basenji or 2? not a snotty question, we need foster homes, so if you can, please do
    Most of us are full.
    Really, overfull…we try to save dogs as we can.
    Until the general public educates itself about the breeds they buy and know what they are getting, we will always have inpulse dogs to rehome.
    Once group can't do it all...thank heavens there are also wonderful b rescue groups around the country, but believe me, they are full as well.
    Its a hard "hobby" to do...because some do get left without our help.


  • Yes, I so do understand the 100% volunteer's! For your question if there is no volunteer in the area how do you pull it? We have other rescue groups that we will contact to see if they will help us out by pulling for us and we start working to find transport to get them to us. We find that most other rescue groups will work great together in helping. Of course if the baby gets adopted before you have time to pull it then that is great news, then you know they at least were saved. I'm sorry to hear that BRAT can't pull every dog that goes into rescue in their area if they have no were to "foster". We too run across this when the kennel we pay boarding fee's on is full and we know there is "no room at the inn" so to speak and all our fosters are full, but we all pray hard and begin hitting our files to see what we can do. There have been times that we have paid other boarding kennels to board our kids if we have no room and no foster homes available. It is NOT cheap and we at times will pay out of our own pocket's to make it work but the dog is out of the kill shelter and when something comes available we move them. We have ran into this in other area's, we are out of AR but get calls from LA,TN,MS and at times farther north to take a dog because other rescue foster homes are full. I must say that is one thing I can say about our director, she has never said no we can't, she will sometimes say.. will you hold them a few days and give us time to work on this and most will. If there is a will there is always a way! I believe this because I have seen it. I can relate to having several at a time in your home as well, at this time I have 9, some have 10 to 12 and we move them to foster's, get them homes or to the kennel when room opens up.

    I have nothing against BRAT, I'm sure they feel they are doing their best. But I just want to know, if you have a basenji in your area and will be PTS if not pulled and you have no "foster's" do you let them be put down or do you find somewhere to board them and pull them? There are other options other than the foster home if push comes to shove at saving one. I too am not trying to be argumentive, but since you mentioned there is not much you can do if there is no foster home open,,,
    I was wondering what other rescue groups are there in the southeast area that rescue/save basenjis?


  • So, do you work at a non kill shelter or group?
    Or is it an open door shelter?
    I think its great you can take them all.
    Keep up the good work.


  • It is a boxer rescue. Sad to say we have a lot of kill shelters in this area. We have gotten to know some of the director's of some of them and they are really good about calling us when a boxer comes in. We start to work on what we are going to do to get them. At the same time the shelter will adopt some out, but the ones that don't get adopted we try to get ASAP. The director's are really good at holding the dog for a time knowing we are working on a place for them which helps alot, at the same time we will post them on our website under shelter page so folks will see them as well. Some have gotten homes by doing this! We have many at this time that are HW positive and working at getting their treatment's. Since getting involved in rescue I have found a lot of really wonderful people will come together at a time of need, it is truly a blessing. I wish the best for you rescue as well.


  • Boxers are wonderful dogs…I admire anyone who does what you do.
    We are all "working" to keep dogs safe, and help them get into good homes.
    I live in the PNW, and thank heavens, we don't have HW up here on the wet side yet.
    But I do know you all that have to work with these dogs who are affected with HW, well, its tough.
    Some day, all dogs will be wanted.
    Hope I am around then.


  • Yes, HW's are a huge problem in our area and seems nearly all our kids end up having them. If folks would realize it only take one pill a month to prevent it. I have had 4 of my own go through the treatments and it is a awful thing to have to watch as well as have them go through it. You can buy Ivermectin at your local feed store and use this for HW prevention which runs around $34.00 and will last for a long time depending on how many dogs you have. It is the best way to go with me due to all the babies I have. I keep up on their weight and make sure to give the appropriate dosage for each one.

    Boxers are great dogs. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my basenji babies but they are not for everyone. I have found that my boxers are so great with my grandkids and have wonderful personalities.

    I am with you on hoping one day all dogs will have a home and also hope I will be around to see that day.
    God Bless you and your rescue as well as all the wonderful basenji babies!


  • @bensmom:

    There have been times that we have paid other boarding kennels to board our kids if we have no room and no foster homes available. It is NOT cheap and we at times will pay out of our own pocket's to make it work but the dog is out of the kill shelter and when something comes available we move them. We have ran into this in other area's, we are out of AR but get calls from LA,TN,MS and at times farther north to take a dog because other rescue foster homes are full.

    I have nothing against BRAT, I'm sure they feel they are doing their best. But I just want to know, if you have a basenji in your area and will be PTS if not pulled and you have no "foster's" do you let them be put down or do you find somewhere to board them and pull them? There are other options other than the foster home if push comes to shove at saving one. I too am not trying to be argumentive, but since you mentioned there is not much you can do if there is no foster home open,,,
    I was wondering what other rescue groups are there in the southeast area that rescue/save basenjis?

    I'll try to answer your question above. Since BRAT is nationwide, each area seems to be a little different, since there are some areas heavy with volunteers and some with little to no volunteers, different coordinators operating the states, etc. I know BRAT will board b's if needed. I've experienced it myself where two brothers had to be boarded for a week before we could get to them, so yes they will board. And with some of the big groups from puppy mills closing I know some dogs were boarded. I believe being a national organization makes it even more difficult to operate smoothly because the volunteers are spread all over the states, the director in one state, coordinators in every few states, so it can be challenging. And I also know many volunteers pay for things out of their own pockets. Personally I havent had to spend too much; I pay the food, collars, toys, beds, etc for my fosters. but some pay vet fees and more expensive things like that. Also with the financials, they were operating in the red this year, so they need to be aware of expenses they are incurring so they can continue to operate in the way they are now.

    I dont know about other smaller rescues in the southeast, but there very well could be.


  • Most of the BRAT folks I know, spend $$ to help dogs that they are moving to other homes.
    They pay for gas, postage, food, collars, crates…really, almost anything you can think of to get the dogs into shape to go to the new homes with all the "things" that they need.
    I am afraid I will not be able to give these things to fosters, as I have in the past, due to the paycuts we are all taking.
    BUT most of us are working for the dogs.
    We are lucky to have a great support group to help us.

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