So there's this 6 month old, brown & white, 30 lbs or so female Basenji/Cattledog mix in a Connecticut shelter. (I am in South Dakota.) Chloe. She's an owner-surrender. No training. High energy compounded from being cooped up and stressed. And she's ADORABLE.
Poor thing has already been pulled once, but the "foster" volunteer who took her turned out to be a TOTAL flake. Kept the poor dog for a few weeks, turned around and dumped her BACK in ANOTHER shelter for reasons unknown. And to top things off….LIED about it to the very people who were initially trying to help this dog and line up a home for her. Told everyone she'd "adopted her out" to some lady she knew but was very vague.
My friend followed a gut feeling and decided to search Petfinder for "Basenji" after this- sure enough, there she was in another shelter. I'd been following along with this saga on another forum….I even spoke with a BRAT coordinator in the northeast who was aware of this dog but it didn't seem like too many people were lining up for her.
Not suprising. Simply uttering the breeds..."Basenji Cattledog" in the same sentence like that sends a line of fright down my spine. Still, part of me can't help but think JUST MAYBE this dog happened to inherit the BETTER qualities of both breeds, might be one SHOCKINGLY intelligent animal. All she might need is someone who understands her quirks and can find her motivation to work…..
And then it just so happens with impeccable timing, I find myself purposefully unemployed BUT not in a financial pinch, at the same time this dog needs help. I half-jokingly make the offer to come get her myself. Friend half-seriously offers to drive her halfway to meet me. Jokes somehow turn into brainstorms.
I'm not quite sure how it happened, but over the last 24 hours I've made plans to drive to Toledo, Ohio (800+ miles) late next week to pick her up. Unless something changes between now & then, I am actually going to foster this dog. :eek:
We know for sure she can be crated, doesn't have seperation anxiety and gets along with other dogs about like a Basenji does. (Snarky, but normal). Barring those "dealbreakers" I am pretty confident I can handle her long enough to evaluate, work with her and find her a home....especially considering I'll be home with her all the time.
To make matters worse, Fred (husband) is actually supportive. It'd be easier to fight the Rescue Bug if he put his foot down and told me I was nuts. But what's he say? "You're at home. You could probably do a good job with her. You'd probably enjoy it. She's probably a neat dog." sigh :rolleyes:
So....anyone have any advice? Words of wisdom? Last rites?
I can provide my address to anyone who would like to dispatch the Funny Farm bus to take me away.
I've only ONCE fostered & rehomed a cute little mutt I picked up in a truckstop....nothing like this. If I'll need guidance with anything, it'll be going about the process of finding a home for her.
I'll post updates!
Danielle, Fred
Jibini & Tana (who patently refuse to clean up the bathroom in preparation for our houseguest)
