Wild pack of basenjis in rural Florida

[MacPack]

Pam has been working with them, and 6 of us went Saturday for volunteer orientation and worked with the dogs a bit. Though very shy, they are not aggressive and a few of them are really "coming out" and come up to the gate and take food from us. Others still cower as far away as they can get. The shelter has a very small fenced grassy "park" where the dogs in the Investigation building get taken by volunteer walkers for a few minutes out of their cages. That is where the basenji pups play and chase like "normal" basenjis. Pam is doing a great job! These dogs will take a lot of patience and TLC, but I think they have "pet potential".

[sharronhurlbut]

Oh, Yea!! thanks for the update.
I having been thinking of these dogs ever sense they have been written up.

[MacPack]

The court date is the 11th, fingers crossed the county assumes ownership of these guys. Animal Control knows these basenjis are way more than they can handle so are happy to work with BRAT. They are being very generous in allowing us to work with the dogs as they are "Investigation" dogs, usually only their long term volunteers and employees work with dogs in legal disputes. Again, it shows their sensitivity to the special needs of these feral basenjis.

[NerdyDogOwner]

I hope all the dogs from this place are spayed and neutered, it is a health concern due the the inbreeding…and to prevent their genes into the Basenji pool.

[Basenjimamma]

NerdyDogOwner, regardless of these dogs futures, they most certainly( I sure hope) will be spayed/neuterd before they leave these shelter locations, or once they are moved into foster homes( not adoptive homes)

[AJs Human]

Any time a shelter gets an animal it is almost inevitable it will be altered before placement…unless it is too young, in which case a contract is made that the animal will be altered.

Regarding their entry into the gene pool: I'm not sure exactly how "inbred" they are. They all look fairly healthy and don't exhibit signs of generational inbreeding. However, their heritage cannot be fully verified. Since this is the case, I don't think they are eligible for entry into the stud book.

Ms. Tanza or Ms. Khanis can answer this better than I can, but from what I'm seeing, only native stock imported from Africa or those animals whose parentage can be verified are allowed entry into the stud book.

[sharronhurlbut]

Animal shelter getting calls to adopt basenjis
February 2, 2010

< http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/02/animal-services-seeking-custody-basenjis/

[MacPack]

That reporter called and interviewed my husband on the phone, within 30 minutes that article appeared on-line! Don had called the reporter the day the first article appeared and they talked a bit then. Guess he kept our phone number. He got a bit of what Don told him right, such is the media! Don kept telling him to call Pam for more information. As far as I know, none are actually out in foster care. The moms and tiny pups are in isolation, but still there at Animal Control.

[sharronhurlbut]

Thank you for the correction.

[MacPack]

I didn't mean any correction, people probably have been calling to adopt! We let Pam do all the direct communication with the shelter. The article had originally said that some of the basenjis were already placed in foster care, not that I know of.

[agilebasenji]

MacPack-
I thought the article was nice, but, uhm, I gotta say, Zest will bring me my slippers if she knows where they are and if there's is a cookie involved. So, well, there's that.

[MacPack]

Nicky might bring my shoes, but there will be a chunk gone when she gets here! Don read it and said, well, the guy quoted a little of what he said correctly.
We're going back Saturday morning, wish I was retired and could spend every morning out there!

[MacPack]

Sorry, guess I was not supposed to have written anything about the shelter dogs, no one ever told any of us not to share any info. Sorry. The very last thing anyone would want is to compromise this case in any way.

[sharronhurlbut]

MacPack, I appreciate the inforamtion, the correct informtion. Who said you shouldn't share it with us?

[AJs Human]

Ms. Sharron, when there is a criminal investigation in progress, the less information released to the public, the better. It's amazing how a tiny bit of information can compromise an entire investigation.

A fine example of this was when the US was tracking Osama Bin Laden and information was released to the press that cel phone usage was being tracked. Until that point, Intelligence had a pretty good idea where he was. After this tidbit was printed and spouted all over the nightly news, Bin Laden changed his communication tactic and went further underground. We haven't found him yet.

I'm not bringing this up to open a can of worms or start a political discussion. I am only illustrating how releasing the smallest detail can hinder law enforcement and military operations.

I, too, appreciate the update, but can understand why the authorities want to keep any information close to the vest.

[Basenjimamma]

MacPack, I like the updates as well..

[sharronhurlbut]

Ms AJ, I understand what your saying. I am seeing that the BRAT person working with the shelter is posting information to several basenjis lists.
She even asked for folk who wanted to help these b's be socialized, step forward.
I will post that latest post next. I think the issue is what was wrongly written in the paper. THAT is the inforamation that is the issue. At least, that is my understanding.
Pat wrote in her latest update….......
Subject: BRAT BUSINESS: February 4 Update on Florida basenjis

Here is the latest update on the confiscated basenjis in Florida from Pam
Hamilton:

Greetings,

First, I would like to thank everyone for their support. I have had
lots of positive feedback and offers of help. I wish I had time to
thank everyone individually. I will contact offers of help as the need
arises and as the timing fits. I will let everyone know when we reach
a point that help needs change. Currently, we are working on
socializing. We will hopefully soon need special foster homes,
transportation, and approved adoptive homes, pending, of course, the outcome
of custody hearings.

Here is the latest update regarding the confiscated basenjis in
Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties:

SPCA: No news from officials at this time.

HCAS: HCAS officials have been very satisfied with BRAT's assistance
thus far. They would like to continue with me as their one point of
contact for all communication. They are pleased with the progress
they've seen in the dogs. This is the first time that they have allowed a
rescue group to assist in this fashion. We would like to make
sure that it is a success that will encourage use of breed rescues in
the future at this facility. They have been extremely busy with a very
full facility and a large number of confiscation investigations and
relinquishing cases, as well as making sure that the dogs were
sufficiently vetted to minimize spreading parasites, so it has taken a
bit of time to get the process in motion. Please respect the rules and
procedures that have been established to minimize the work for
everyone involved.

HCAS officials and I had another meeting yesterday. Procedures will
continue to be tweaked as time progresses. Volunteers who have
already been to our first orientation will need a mini-reorientation.
Any other orientation sessions will include this material brought up
in our latest meeting. I have a collection of material that I will be
emailing to volunteers. I will also work on setting up schedules. We can
plan on meeting on Saturday, February 6. We should soon be able to add
Sundays to the schedule since the Shelter is making changes to maximize the
use of volunteers. As part of the tweaking process, it has been determined
that I should be there whenever BRAT-organized volunteers are there,
at least until the project is well underway. Please be very sensitive
to the fact that these dogs are part of a custody investigation. No
pictures of or communications about the dogs are to be disseminated to
anyone outside of the volunteer group unless it has been specifically
approved by me. I check in with the investigation officer to make sure
that anything that may be shared will not be damaging to their case.
Please do not jeopardize the use of our rescue's assistance by
violating this.

The dogs are doing remarkably well given the stressful environment
(barking poodles are hard to ignore). Reduction of parasite loads is
starting to show as a healthier distribution of their weight. A couple
have taken to the leash quickly. They know me quite well, whine when I
leave and greet me with a wag when I return. Socialization has begun
for many in their pens. The facility has a small park that is just for
the use of the investigation dogs. We have begun to get some out to
the park, in pairs or groups when appropriate. It is amazing how
quickly they become "normal" once they are out in the park - and once
they realize that the human has some good qualities. While most are
man-shy, many will come up to the gate to greet volunteers who visit
regularly with treats - bribes work! The ones that were most at risk due
to health concerns are currently in foster care and are flourishing.
The next step in determining their future is a custody hearing
February 11, which will be followed by a 30 day hold for appeals,
assuming custody is awarded to HCAS. Much of this was covered in an
online, to-be-printed news article:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/02/animal-services-seeking-custody-basenjis/
.

If you would like to help with socialization and haven't yet been
contacted, please respond to me at flbasenji@earthlink.net with the
subject of "HCAS basenji socialization". I have been getting hundreds
of emails - the subject will help me to find you quickly. I must use a
form response when I can, given the number of emails I am receiving.
If you have additional questions, please send me a separate email with
the subject generally indicating what you need, if possible (ie,
transport, fostering, adopting, etc.). Other routine BRAT activities
in FL have greatly increased as the confiscation cases have been
unfolding, so anything that you can do to help keep communication
simple, efficient and quick is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for all of your support,

Pam

---

Pam Hamilton
FL District Coordinator
Advisory Director
Basenji Rescue and Transport

Debbi Johnson
BRAT Treasurer & Director
Germantown, TN
debbijbasenjirescue@comcast.net

[AJs Human]

Thank you for the update, Ms. Sharron.

[sharronhurlbut]

Oh, my unmet friend..your very welcome. I think the whole basenji community is very interested in how this works out for these dogs.
Sigh. I wish they could make sure this fellow doesn't get any more dogs of ANY breed.
Sigh.

[LizNewton]

From Pam Hamilton and Debbi Johnson:

Greetings from not-so-sunny-or-warm Florida!

As many of you are probably aware, the hearing was held Thursday, Feb. 11, to determine the custody of the basenjis confiscated by HCAS (Hillsborough County Animal Services). The owner did not show up for the custody hearing. The judge heard a brief review of the case, promptly awarded custody to HCAS, waived the 30 day appeal period and enjoined Mr. Holland from owning any animals in Hillsborough County. It will take a bit of time to finalize paperwork. It is currently the intention of HCAS to have BRAT take the basenjis and rehome them. More details on that process will follow soon. It will take time, money and manpower to get this unique batch of basenjis onto their new lives in real homes. Donations will be gratefully appreciated for this significant endeavor.

Debbi has spent the week running around with Pam, taking care of basenjis young and old. Mr. Holland's basenjis have gone without vetting for so long that getting all of his basenjis parasite free and healthy has taken some time. Debbi's now had the chance to experience a bit of the nursemaid duties.

I will provide a description of the characteristics and personalities that this line has. Adopters and fosters must be able to demonstrate that they will be able to meet the needs of these intense and high-level basenjis. They have neat personalities, but they are a bit like "Jolt" - a high-caffeine, high-sugar soda - lots of kick and energy.

It has been a pleasure to work so closely with a shelter to help basenjis. I hope that more shelters will work with us in this fashion in the future.

We have not yet had any news from the SPCA in Pinellas County.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Pam & Debbi