• The Basenji magazine also has Available Dogs listed, http://thebasenji.com/category/available-basenjis/


  • Thank you both will keep looking.
    If anyone hears of anything hopefully will email. Thanks again


  • We understand your freedom of choice! WE love our to Brats! Maybe one will come listed soon. We had to wait a few months before our "perfect" friend came along! Good Luck! They are soooo worth the wait. 🙂


  • Good for you, I have no intentions of ever getting a Brat not even for free which they are not. Thanks for the comment though.
    adopt all you want!

  • Houston

    I am sorry to hear that you feel that way about BRAT or adopting in general. Good luck in finding "perfect".


  • Could I ask if there is a reason that you do not want to adopt?

    Rita Jean


  • There is nothing wrong with someone going specifically to a breeder.
    Just as many of you feel getting a rescue dog is the way to go for most folks.
    This couple has had a basenji, they know what to expect and prefer one from a breeder.
    Most people that choose this route usually want the security of a well-bred dog with a history that is known.
    With a rescue, we know that the vast majority of them are coming from the unknown even the ones that come with a pedigree since so many of those aren't actual pedigrees.

    The BCOA site does list breeders and TheBasenji.com does list a number of dogs that breeders have listed for various reasons.

    Best of luck to you on getting your ideal Basenji!


  • In what part of IL do you live? There is a decent number of basenji breeders in the general Chicago vicinity.

    You can use www.bcosw.org for contacts, go to the breeders link on the left.


  • @khanis:

    There is nothing wrong with someone going specifically to a breeder.
    Just as many of you feel getting a rescue dog is the way to go for most folks.
    This couple has had a basenji, they know what to expect and prefer one from a breeder.
    Most people that choose this route usually want the security of a well-bred dog with a history that is known.
    With a rescue, we know that the vast majority of them are coming from the unknown even the ones that come with a pedigree since so many of those aren't actual pedigrees.

    The BCOA site does list breeders and TheBasenji.com does list a number of dogs that breeders have listed for various reasons.

    Best of luck to you on getting your ideal Basenji!

    I agree… not everyone wants a rescue nor do they all suit their situations.. that is an "unknown"... and there is nothing wrong with deciding that they would rather have one from a breeder then from rescue... and remember that BRAT does not DNA test for Fanconi and responsible breeders do....


  • @khanis:

    There is nothing wrong with someone going specifically to a breeder.
    Just as many of you feel getting a rescue dog is the way to go for most folks.
    This couple has had a basenji, they know what to expect and prefer one from a breeder.
    Most people that choose this route usually want the security of a well-bred dog with a history that is known.
    With a rescue, we know that the vast majority of them are coming from the unknown even the ones that come with a pedigree since so many of those aren't actual pedigrees.

    The BCOA site does list breeders and TheBasenji.com does list a number of dogs that breeders have listed for various reasons.

    Best of luck to you on getting your ideal Basenji!

    +1 - everyone should be allowed to choose an option that is best for them. I'm happy BRAT is a good option for some, and happy as well when I read that someone has adopted an adult from a responsible breeder. It is a personal choice.

    In my case, the lack of DNA testing for Fanconi (without knowing the pedigree) on BRAT's part was a key reason I went to a breeder to adopt my adult basenjis. That and at the time of my first adoption, BRAT was a difficult option for people that work away from home full time - don't know how that is handled these days, but because I was told that, I didn't bother contacting them as I work 4 days per week.

    Adopting an adult from a responsible breeder is a good thing - many of them have either finished their showing careers or flunked out as show dogs and they too need good homes. Another good thing about going to a responsible breeder for an adult - they are a great resource for any questions you have that arise months/years down the road as they know their dogs well.

    To the original poster, I'm sorry for your loss and hope you find a new basenji companion soon. Sometimes breeders on the BCOA breeders list (that Tanza posted) have other adults available that aren't on their websites, so you might need to call a few to find out. Good luck and be sure to post pictures! 🙂


  • Getting from the breeder is an excellent idea. I think most on here would agree. However IMO Rev's response was rude and dismissive. People were just giving their experiences and asking why. Had he said I am not interested in one I don't have a background on, no one would have said a thing. But he basically said rescue is not good enough for me, again IMO. Many people on here have rescued dogs and that seems hurtful.

    "Good for you, I have no intentions of ever getting a Brat not even for free which they are not. Thanks for the comment though.
    adopt all you want! "


  • I am sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose your best friend.

    I, too, have no kids and am married. Our dogs are our kids!:o My husband and I sent our 16 year old red and white male, Congo, to "puppy heaven" in March. We have an almost 7 year old tri female, Bandit, who we felt was going to die of a broken heart. It didn't take us long to realize that she lost more than we did when Congo was gone. No amount of treats and special attention brought any joy into her life.

    We, too, wanted an adult dog. Not being home all the time and other obvious basenji reasons! I signed up for BRAT with the thinking that everything happens for a reason and if it is to be, then let's at least see what happens.

    I didn't feel comfortable contacting any breeders right away because you can never "replace" the perfect basenji (Congo really was!!!) . Anyway, I was surprised to get a call not 2 months later from BRAT, "was I still looking?".

    A 1 1/2 year old tri male was being placed up because the lady who had him had 2 big dogs and just didn't want him anymore.

    Can I just say how lucky we are to have found Hunter? :o He is the most precious little boy who just wanted love and attention. He wasn't abused or neglected, more like ignored. He is now able to get his "puppy" out and just be a basenji, for the first time. We have him enrolled in obedience class and the instructor last night said she was impressed that he has come so far, being a basenji and all!

    Not all rescues are "horror stories". If you are willing to put yourself out there, you just might be as pleasantly surprised as we were!:) Good luck in your search!
    attachment_p_88303_0_congo-on-the-couch.jpg
    attachment_p_88303_1_hunter-loves-bandit.jpg


  • @dash:

    Getting from the breeder is an excellent idea. I think most on here would agree. However IMO Rev's response was rude and dismissive. People were just giving their experiences and asking why. Had he said I am not interested in one I don't have a background on, no one would have said a thing. But he basically said rescue is not good enough for me, again IMO. Many people on here have rescued dogs and that seems hurtful.

    "Good for you, I have no intentions of ever getting a Brat not even for free which they are not. Thanks for the comment though.
    adopt all you want! "

    You and I might be overly sensitive, but I agree with you 100%. :rolleyes:

    All six of my dogs are rescues and I couldn't imagine not giving them a safe place and the love they've missed. In return, I am rewarded with so much love. There are so many Basenjis in need these days.

    To each his own.

  • Houston

    +1 on what Dash and Vicki said, but also..to each his own..
    There are pleasant ways and not so pleasant, we all choose what way to go..

    As a fellow Brat fosterparent, I admit, my feelings were hurt..but I also see why you might want to go through a breeder..please do make sure you do just that, go through a breeder..


  • I think Rev got the good and the bad on here and everyone is so right about to each his own.

    Basenjimamma do not let it hurt your feelings we know that there are lots of people that will go to BRAT same as some that will not. As long as they get good homes that is what matters? Right.

    Yes I hope they go to a breeder. I am sorry about there loss and sometimes when we loss our baby it's hard to see other ways time might take care it for them and they find what they are looking for.

    Rita Jean


  • One point I think is very pertinent to this discussion is that rescue exists because of BYB's and puppy mills that do not take responsibility for their dogs for their whole lives. They care more about the sale than about whether a basenji is a good fit for the people who contact them. I am not by any means suggesting that rescues don't deserve homes…..but when it comes down to it rescue is part of the market for BYB's and puppy mills. They don't care where their dogs end up...

    Better that a dog come from a responsible than from someone who got their dog from a BYB. It's all about the demand...

    anticipating that I will be yelled at


  • I won't yell at you. It has been said here before, rescue is a catch 22. The dogs deserve good homes but by cleaning up after the mess of others so they do not have to take responsibility for their actions only perpetuates a cycle where animals will continue to end up in this situation.

    Education is key to breaking the cycle. The fewer people who purchase BYB/puppymill dogs the less will be produced because they can not be sold. I also think rescue organizations should send a letter to the breeders when known asking them for donation to pay for the expenses to rehome their dogs. When BCONC was still able to do rescue, we did that and it did have an impact when a person keeps getting those letters in the mail, not on everyone but on some.


  • Also, there are people out there that have been treated rudely by individuals representing rescue groups…and that may have left a bad taste for them. I think everybody just needs to take a deep breath, and not take the comments personally 🙂 Rescue is great, responsible breeders are great...different people have different preferences and needs..we can all respect that.


  • @lvoss:

    IThe dogs deserve good homes but by cleaning up after the mess of others so they do not have to take responsibility for their actions only perpetuates a cycle where animals will continue to end up in this situation.

    I almost used the phrase "cleaning up" in my post because I really do think it's the best descriptor. And I really like the idea of sending a letter to irresponsible breeders asking for a donation to rehome their dogs….

  • Houston

    I agree with what has been stated, I too feel as if it is a major catch 22, if we have rescues the BYB's and the likes have somewhere for their dogs to goi.e get dumped, not good, but on the flipside, rescue is good for the times when somebody passes away or gets sick and can't take care of the pets anymore, or whatever have you.
    It is a shame I think that rescue organizations take dogs from BYB's and puppy mills over and over again..I wish there was a way to stop that from happening, but I don't know how to get that to happen. By helping them out we are not stopping it, we are doing just that, helping them out..

    By the way, my feelings were hurt on a foster type level, nothing personal what so ever..

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