Hi, Dave. It's definitely a puppy mill. They did end up going back into business.

The conditions were not great–They were horrible. The dogs all stood on wire crates all day. Their feces would fall under the crates into a trough, and a steady stream of water would wash it out. There was a water system above the crates that provided water much like a Hamster water bottle, except connected to plumbing. They had gravity feeders to feed them. The system was automated, and the only time the animals were touched, is when they were bred.

There were dogs kept outside that had never had a brush through their thick hair, and were one solid "mat" of fur. There was a italian greyhound welping alone in one kennell, and a golden retriever dying alone in the next kennel.

None of the dogs were aclimated to humans. None of the dogs ever got to run. The most excersize they got was circling on their wire floor. There feet were badly "splayed", and looked deformed from having to stand on wires all of their lives.

Reedgate was Doggy-hell-on-earth.

I would look into getting one that is no less than 2 years old. After you are a veteran owner, then get a puppy. Have you ever tried training a spider monkey that smokes crack? If not, that would be a very good way to prepare yourself for the havoc a basenji puppy will bring to your home.

They can really be holy terrors for a long time. But as we say in my family, "…they sure are entertaining..."

There are exceptions, but really not many. If you do decide to do it, remember you are getting a very crazy pup that will continue to be an innovative destructive little ball of sweet love & joy that can punish you to the same extreme that it loves you without guilt.

....but they sure are entertaining!

Vegas

Thanks, sharron!

Mom's getting a little burned out, and the extra help right now would go a long way.

Fostering is so rewarding. If you have the time, please volunteer.

She was one of the toughest to handle.

ahhh…Bodhi is cute. I like the name too. How'd you come up with it?

Is Zena the brindle girl? She was one of the toughest, I believe. That poor girl was soooo scared.

She would not be one of the prego chicas.

Sometimes, I swear, it seems like we put the basenjis out to pasture. We call it grazing.

@sharronhurlbut:

I know how busy you all are, but I would love to see some photos when you get them.
Hugs and hugs for doing this.
Are you keeping one?

Sharron, I'm having problems with my camera/computer, or I would already have them up!

I'm working on it though…promise.;)

The vet says that one is prego, and ready to go, and two others might be pregnant.

I went back last night, and helped feed, and clean kennels. All of the dogs had a bath except for two. A brindle female was being extremely fearful, and one of the males was about the same. We'll see if they warm up today, and when/if they do, they will get their baths too.

Those 4 seven-month old tris are soooo cute.

@sharronhurlbut:

Thanks for this post. I am sorry more are pg than reported…sigh...

Well, it's just an semi-educated guess based on their appearances. It may or may not prove to be correct. We got the vet there today though, so everybody will get weighed, and then we should be able to more easily monitor the suspect females.

I wonder if the make doggie prego test kits?:o