Hello,

I am officially on a hunt for an older Basenji doggo to call my own. I am very excited as I have not been able to adopt a dog while I still lived at home with my parents (my mom is allergic to dogs). Now that I live on my own in a townhouse, and have a stable job (with BC Hydro), I want to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a dog owner. I have done quite a bit of research on which breed would be ideal for me, and everything I've read points towards a Basenji.

I have been looking checking the SPCA daily for some time now, and have been looking on craigslist and Kajiji, but haven't had any luck, so I'm hoping there is someone on this forum that might be able to point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Cheers,
-Jacabok

go to http://www.basenjiclubofcanada.com/ and there is a link to their Breeders Directory. Try that, sometimes breeders have older Basenjis, ex-show dogs that they are looking/wanting to rehome after their showing is done.

Regardless of where you get your dog, please make sure the dog is fanconi tested, or at least one of the parents have documentation of being clear.

There may be breeders with adults needing a forever home for a variety of reasons (finished showing/breeding, sent back to breeder if home didn't work out). So start HERE, on the board, and with
the Canadian Basenji club. Local groups or breeders may know of available dogs even if they don't have one.
http://www.basenjiclubofcanada.com/BCOC-BreedersDirectory.html

Also, touch bases with US breeders on your side of the country:
(Note there are also a couple listed from canada.. left column)
http://www.basenji.org/joomla/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Dcategory%26layout%3Dblog%26id%3D111%26Itemid%3D94

Next, contact BRAT. They may have dogs near enough to you to be possible. Their site isn't updated, so contact to see what is actually available. Transportation is possible.
https://www.basenjirescue.org/dogs/default.asp

Also, contact the Northern Calif Basenji rescue group.
http://www.bconc.org/

I would suggest touching bases also with the California (medfly) basenji rescue. Although it says SOUTHERN Calif, again transport may be possible.
http://www.basenjirescue.com/

While you can't get much further than Florida, contact Pam Hamilton with Camp Basenji also. Transportation might be possible. She has some wonderful young adults (ie under 7). Like BRAT, the available dogs list is far from updated. So just ask.
http://www.campbasenji.org/

@tanza Your post didn't show up until I posted, lol. Board glitch.

@DebraDownSouth Holy Cow! Thank you for all the links and info! This will definitely get me going in the right direction - much appreciated. I've messaged with Simone (i think) at Beaubri Basenji today who suggested BRAT as well; and I didn't even think of contacting US breeders, so i'll be sure to look into that too. I'm so excited to actually be perusing dog adoption.

Thanks again! I hope you're having a wonderful day.

Thanks @tanza

The concept of adopting an ex-show dog had not occurred to me. In general, would I expect an ex-show dog to be better, or more thoroughly trained? As a first time dog adopter, do you think I should look specifically for an ex-show dog?

@Jacabok - I don't think you should just limit to ex-show dog... they may or MAY not be more thoroughly trained... LOL, I can tell you my show dogs are NOT well trained except to train me! If the Basenji comes from a legit rescue group, they are pretty well vetted for training as typically they are with a foster that is experienced with Basenjis. That said, stay away from things like craigslist, people use that to "dump" their pets, in my opinion. And rarely will you find a Basenji in a shelter, in the US, most shelters will contact rescue if they get purebreds.

And rarely will you find a Basenji in a shelter, in the US, most shelters will contact rescue if they get purebreds.

Well you'd think, but.... I go through the internet sites everyday looking for Basenjis, I find a lot in shelters. They usually will turn them over to BRAT, but sometimes not. Right now there is a Basenji in a Los Angeles SPCA that they will not turn over, I think a BRAT member plans to adopt it out today for BRAT. There is also a Basenji with severe separation anxiety in a Plano, TX shelter that they will not turn over. I don't get that one.

I find a lot on craigslist too, that are legitimately good dogs. Things happen in people's lives, not everyone realises that there are rescues to turn to. There is a retired show Basenji on an OH craigslist right now.
-Joanne

In regards to giza1's post - I'm originally from Ohio so I had to look this up... Can't believe there is a retired show dog on Craigslist...
https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pet/6089690675.html

Using C.L. to rehome a basenji raises red flags for me.

You might also try the group in Washington:
http://evergreenbasenjiclub.org/breeders/

@wizard said in Looking for Older Basenji in British Columbia, Canada:

Using C.L. to rehome a basenji raises red flags for me.

Why? it is a legitimate resource to get the word out about a dog. There are Basenjis to be found there, and not necessarily bad, unhealthy, or stolen ones. BRAT gets more than a few from CL. I have a Basenji that I found on Kijiji. It's not much different than advertising in a newspaper (not that anyone really does that anymore). I notice a lot of rescue organisations place ads on CL.
-Joanne

@wizard said in Looking for Older Basenji in British Columbia, Canada:

You might also try the group in Washington:
http://evergreenbasenjiclub.org/breeders/

There is also Colorado Basenji Rescue: http://www.coloradobasenjirescue.org/index.shtml, very good organisation and they will send a dog to Canada (your dime).
-Joanne
-Joanne

@giza1 - Not a legit resource IMO... while you might find a breeder now and again... most are people that purchased from pet stores/BYB, Basenjis with no health testing. From responsible breeders there is typically a contract that the breeder gets the Basenji back... Also many are trying to just re-coop the price they paid. As with everything there are exceptions, but for the majority, IMO not a legit resource

Oh, I'm not saying it's the best place to get a Basenji, but y'know, at the end of the day, it's a little Basenji that needs a home. That little Basenji doesn't know it may be of inferior quality and what, not worthy of a home?
-Joanne

@giza1 - and it may carry Fanconi gene and be affected or be affected for PRA... or have other health issues... or temperament problems.... not just talking about pedigree, not talking about conformation... and typically there is no vetting to the home, people are just looking for bucks.... IMO, better to go to a responsible breeders or rescue org....

In fact, brat has people checking Craigs list and if you see one, let them know. Getting the dogs into rescue so they are vetted and put in good homes helps.

@DebraDownSouth said in Looking for Older Basenji in British Columbia, Canada:

In fact, brat has people checking Craigs list and if you see one, let them know. Getting the dogs into rescue so they are vetted and put in good homes helps.

That would be me. I check as many a internet sites as I know of daily looking for Basenjis, that's why I've got a pretty good idea of what's out there, and where they mostly are. A lot of the people who are initially asking for money will simply turn them over to BRAT. Many do want good homes for these dogs, and just don't know about rescue.
-Joanne
-Joanne

Thank you. I rather meant "you" as in anyone, but good to know that you are on it!

@Jacabok
Any progress yet?