Primal canine nutrition?

After trying many dog foods over the years, I currently feed my basenjis Ori-Jen dog food.

It seems like this brand is much closer to "the foods and nutrients that cats & dogs would find hunting in the wild, keeping in mind that today’s lifestyle of regular meals and less exercise means that our companion pets require fewer calories."
I also have used (and like) Evo dog food.

It just seems that my basenjis prefer Ori-Jen to Evo---so that's what they get. (I am writing this blog post in my personal capacity and not as a representative of BRAT. I pay full price for all of the dog foods I use and don't get anything for free from any dog food companies).

My only concern about Ori-Jen is that the fat content seems a little lower than what dogs would have eaten in the wild---the "fat phobia" seems to have even infected dog foods.

Anyway, feel free to use the comments section below to share your ideas on canine nutrition and what works best with your basenji/dog. I like the idea of the "raw diet" but am not ready to go that far.

Shivering Timbers and Tender Tootsies

Basenjis are dramatic. There is just no question about that. They are divas, especially when they need something or want your attention NOW.

Denny has two techniques that are exquisite, and that, alas, get me every time.

The first is when he wants to be cuddled. Seriously cuddled. As in wrapped in a blanket and cuddled. He sits there and starts shivering. It's not cold in the room, there's no draft, no open window. He just shivers. His whole little body convulses lightly, and then he looks up at me with the EYES. You know those eyes. Yes, THOSE eyes. The ones that turn level-headed dog-owner into gushy, slobbering, baby-talking mama.

What do you do when your dog shivers and looks at you pathetically? Wrap him up in the nearest blanket and snuggle him close in your arms until he stops shivering and falls asleep, lightly snoring.

Yeah. Sucker, thy name is Cait.

The second trick isn't so much a trick as him being melodramatic. Yes, we're in Boston, and it's cold outside, and there's snow on the ground, or salt. I do my best to keep him off all of it, and I always take him back in when he lets me know his paws start to hurt. It's just the way he does it that's over-the-top. The boy picks up the offending paw, twirls it around a few times and lets out a cry that spikes estrogen-driven maternal instincts for several city blocks.

Okay! I get it, you need to go in. And yes, I will pick you up and carry you back as far as need be to stave your tender tootsies. I do try to tell him that all of this could have been avoided if he would just give it up and wear booties, but noooooooo. He won't do it.

I did find something called Musher's Secret that seems to help a LOT with the salt problem. Still, it's kind of humiliating. I'm the one supposed to be walking the dog, and instead, I'm the beast of burden...with the wee beastie in my arms.

Yet, for all of this, I wouldn't trade my self-absorbed, diva-esque, tender-tootsied dog for all the world. Oops, gotta go. Someone needs a belly rub!

Clean & Green

Tired of high energy costs? Want an eco-friendly way to keep your home clean without wasting water and spending money on harsh cleansers?

Now there's Senji-Clean™ !

We've taken ancient African cleansing power and combined it with the latest technology to bring you the world's first eco-friendly dishwashing system.

Does this ever happen to you? Greasy, eggy, cheesy plate. Guests will be arriving soon - what to do?

Don't worry! The Senji-Clean team is always ready for action!

Simply take that dirty plate and place it on the Senji-Clean Action Mat™ to start the cleansing process. Senji-Clean uses Senji-Jet Technology™ to remove every trace of baked-on, greasy food in seconds!

Leaving you with dishes that sparkle like new!

Clean and dry, and ready to be placed back into the cupboard.

But wait! Senji-Clean is available in four different colors to match your decor. Say goodbye to high energy costs for good!

To get your own Senji-Clean Advanced Dishwashing System, visit The Basenji Rescue website and adopt your Basenji today!

Staci blogs at verypink.com, and uses a Maytag dishwasher (and detergent!) to wash her dishes.

Shane's TV Premier!‏

This is a video of me on Winter Paw Care for a local TV show (eightWest) and I used Shane as a demo dog. Shane is my foster whom I've had for about 7 months or so. He was one of the (three) Amish Puppy Mill rescues. When I first received Shane, he wouldn't make eye contact and wouldn't come into the same room as a person. When he eventually would, if you moved at all, he'd get up and run away. You can see how calm and sweet he is now. Now he curls up beside me on the couch and readily receives love. He recently started playing with me even!

Tonya M. Christiansen

Must Love Dogs Boutique & Spa
211 Washington Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
(616) 935-9588

Have you Strip Tested your Basenji this Month?

It is recommended to strip test a basenji’s urine monthly starting at age 3. This is done using urine glucose test strips that can be found with diabetic supplies in most drug stores. Presence of glucose (sugar) in the urine is the earliest indicator of Fanconi disease. Fanconi disease affects the kidneys by disrupting their filtering mechanism. Basically, kidneys filter waste products out of the blood stream to be eliminated from the body in the urine. The kidneys also should filter important things such as vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, water, etc. back INTO the blood stream for our bodies to use -- this is the function that is disrupted in Fanconi disease. Fanconi is considered to be genetic (inherited) in basenji and that is why all basenji should be tested. This testing can detect the disease early, before the dog starts showing symptoms such as drinking and peeing in large amounts.


This is my basenji, Cleo. She is 7 years old. From the time Cleo turned 3, I had been doing the test, but I wasn’t always consistent about it. Take last winter, for example. It was particularly windy, cold & icy where we live, and I got lazy about the testing. It seemed difficult enough to hold onto the leash & make sure neither of us fell on the ice during our walks; I didn’t think I could also hold onto that tiny test strip and try to stick it underneath Cleo while she peed in the deep snow. I guess it was one of those times I thought “It won’t happen to me”. But it did. Somewhere towards the end of winter my dad made the comment “Cleo sure does seem to be peeing a lot”. I had thought the same thing, but I think I tried to ignore it, or just thought I was being silly and overly worried. As things started to warm up in the spring I started the testing again. Not surprisingly the test strips started appearing positive. I tested Cleo several times over about the last 2weeks of March, and each time the test was positive to varying degrees. So when we went to the vet on March 31 for annual vaccinations I went prepared with two copies of the Gonto Fanconi Treatment Protocol, one for me and one for the vet. They checked her urine to confirm what I had found, as well as checking her blood sugar to rule out diabetes and confirm the diagnosis of Fanconi Syndrome. We came home that day with a confirmed diagnosis of Fanconi Syndrome… and more questions than answers.

Luckily, Cleo is doing well now on her medications, but she takes a total of 17 pills every day! If I had tested every month as is recommended I could have caught the disease in its early stages and maybe she wouldn’t require so many medications. We also don’t know what effects the delayed treatment will have on her kidneys over the long haul. So, have you strip tested your basenji this month??

- Sarah
sedouthit@gmail.com

Basenjis and Manx Cats

We have Manx cats and they have been a part of our household for as many years as we have had Basenjis. I think it has been around 35 years now. Funny how time goes by so quickly.


The interesting thing about the Manx cat is it is quite dog-like, while the Basenji is quite cat-like. They are both clean and love to play, and are always investigating.


Not all our Manx have been friends with our Basenjis and not all our Basenjis have been friends with our Manx. Both are intelligent enough to know when to leave each other alone, usually.


Our Manx have been quite fond of sleeping with some of our Basenjis. Wrestling matches do occur sometimes. The cats usually start a chase ....


Gumbo has been known to drag 3 particular cats around by the neck. The cats simply go limp and then walk off when he gets tired of the game.


Some of our Manx will not put up with any type of chasing or dragging at all. Gumbo knows the difference and respects the uplifted paw, generally with claws in, of the Manx. They are often too gentle with him.

-Marj Baker

My Precious Little Boy, Ares

I got Ares in 1998. Every dog that I had had up to that point always wanted to stay upstairs with my mom. Mom liked game shows and I liked shows like Xena, so Mom mostly watched TV upstairs and I hung out downstairs in the rec room. I had another Basenji at that time named Missy, and she loved to stay upstairs with Mom. However, ever since I brought Ares home, he wanted to be where ever I was. If I didn't bring him downstairs with me he would stand at the top of the stairs and cry, at least till he was big enough and brave enough to come down the stairs himself. I had to put a doggie bed under my desk so he could sleep there when I was on the computer. He slept with me, too - he basically was my shadow.

I have had many dogs over the years, and always 3 basenjis total. First was Missy, then I got my boy Ares, then I got my second boy Raven after Missy crossed the Bridge. With the two boys ruling the house, I figured I needed a girl to keep them in line so I got Aurora. After Raven passed from cancer I got my third boy Loki, and he lives up to his name as the Norse God of Mischief. Ares was the boss of this little pack (after me). Me and my little pack would do the SPCA Paws for Cause walk every year and Ares was always on high alert in case any other dog got too aggresive, but nothing ever happened.

Ares crossed the bridge the Friday before Christmas this year. I got home from work and he had passed in his sleep. At least he had the other two puppies with him. I
felt guilty for not being there, since I had wondered just the day before if it was finally his time. But Ares being Ares took that decision out of my hands.

I have had numerous pets and I try to help animals where ever I can, so I will have lots of friends to meet me when I cross the bridge. But I know that at the head of the line will be Ares.

May Smith

Silly Senjis

Well, it is winter in Vermont and that means the dogs can't go outside as frequently as they would like... that also means they have been getting a wee bit BORED stuck inside. Enjoy these funny photos of the goofy things my silly senjis have done (yeah, I admit it... I am a little bored too!).

Calvin hamming it up for the camera!

Calvin tried his paw at knitting.
He gave up and decided that eating my knitting needles was more fun.

Bored???
Try turning your bed into a fort!

And if all else fails, just stick anything to your basenji's head.
They will get oodles of enjoyment out of trying to remove and shred it!

Happy Birthday, Basenjis!

It was party central in my house over the holidays. We celebrated the birthdays of the three B's in the house.

Jazzie turned 7 on December 26th, Dixie turned 4 on January 3rd. Since we don't know Benny's actual birthday, but do know he was 9 when he came into BRAT, I declared his birthday should be January 1st. He turned 11 and has a penchant for de-fuzzing tennis balls and furry hedgehogs.

Besides frosty paws, bacon chip pancakes and treats galore, each birthday brought new toys.

Among them was a hedgehog with 8 squeakers; completely de-squeaked in short order.

A single squeaker hedgehog; promptly de-squeaked, de-stuffed, face and limbs chewed off.

All the other toys were properly maimed and disfigured as well. The house was a mess, but a wonderful time was had by all creating such mayhem.

Happy New Year to all and Happy Birthday to all basenjis!

Tippy is 19!

My fiancee, Phyllis, has a basenji named Tippy. Tippy was purchased at a Connecticut Pound; BRAT worked out the rescue. Tippy was 6 years old at the time of the rescue and today she is 19 years old (January 9, 2010).


Here are a few pictures. Mind you, at 19 yrs old Tippy is playing with my Pembroke Corgi who just turned 2 yrs old. He has been trained to back off to let her rest during play periods.


Tippy has tons of energy for 19, and although a rescue Basenji, she is as friendly and loving as if she had never had a tough life prior to being rescued by Phyllis 13 years ago!


She and my Corgi get along like best friends and play at least once or twice a day. She is in top form and we see no end in sight!

Love to you and your staff!!!

-Ernie, Phyllis, Tippy, and Tecumseh

Dreaming of Spring

We’ve been suffering through some really cold temperatures for Southern Illinois with negative wind chill, snow, and generally bitter and dangerous winter weather.
Ivan and Dasa are not fond of ice, snow, rain, dew or any other form of moisture on the ground. They do not think water in any form is appropriate for them to step in, ever. After last week’s snow we cleared the patio and shoveled some spots in the backyard so grass is visible. Dasa gets worried and confused if she can’t find any grass. However, when she could see some grass, she was a very brave little girl and trotted out to quickly potty. Ivan, on the other hand, was convinced the backyard must be the only place with all that nasty white stuff, and refused to poop until we wrestled him into two coats and booties and took him for a short walk.

On chilly mornings, Ivan holds up a paw to step into his sweater. He’s a smart boy. Dasa always tries to be helpful, so wriggling her into a sweater is easy. We have blankets of varying sizes all over the house so there’s one within reach every time a small dog curls up to nap. They do not like cold, and they are more than happy to spend cold winter days in sweaters, under the covers on a dog bed, couch, or people bed. Dasa prefers to be on her people bed, wrapped in blankies. Ivan likes his heaters. Make no mistake, they are his heaters.

Ivan prefers a dog bed placed strategically in front of the heater. After he circles the correct number of times, whatever that number might be, he settles in and sighs contentedly when I cover him with a blanket. His favorite spot for napping in front of his heater is in my office. He is a very diligent little office helper, snoozing away while I toil at my computer.

It’s such a nice feeling to see little ears poking out from under blankets and know my babies are safe, warm, and probably dreaming of spring.

I guess I will never learn

It's been far too quiet in Basenji land. Thanksgiving--the great camping trip. Christmas Eve, no ripped packages under the tree. Christmas Day--excellent behavior, not even begging for fried turkey, just perfect manners sitting on the couch watching the humans eat. No shredding of Christmas paper. Maybe the cold has slowed them down...

Cue the Jaws music.

Oops we left the chocolate snowman on the dining room table. How do we know this? We have the shredded foil to prove he was there. Luckily no ill effects for Iggy, who had a very smug look on his face (and a bit of foil in his fur).

Since then shredded toilet paper almost every morning. And finally a great basenji prize--yesterday Shawn left his mechanical pencil on the ottoman. Yum Yum.

Yes, it's been far too quiet in Basenji land. Happy New Year. All is back to normal...

Seeking Tips for Dental Care

Just before the holidays, I got the sad news that the wonderful veterinary clinic where I have been taking Bow as well as my first basenji foster was closing due to bankruptcy, another victim of the economy. I’d searched for a long time to find the just right vet for basenjis, so I dreaded going through the process again.

Besides being knowledgeable of basenjis, having great rapport with Bow, supported by wonderful staff and reasonably priced, she was in a fairly quiet part of the big city and her waiting room was always calm and quiet. If there was ever a situation with another dog that stressed Bow out, she was good to get us to an examining room to keep the visit calm.

I guess that “quiet” that was good for us was bad for her and a sign of people that apparently aren’t giving their pets the medical care they need.

We were fortunate to find an equally, if not even more qualified vet through our trainer who said she caught things with her dogs that other vets never even detected. Unfortunately she’s in one of the busiest parts of the city with only three parking spaces, lots of traffic and a tiny, always full waiting room that makes the few minutes before we are seen a little more stressful but manageable. Once we’re in the examining room, all is fine and she has a good rapport with Bow.

Everything checked out fine with our annual check up, but she did recommend a tartar removal treatment. Important but not urgent, but we are schedule to have it done in early February. I was pleased that she did thorough blood work to make sure all would be fine for the anesthesia. The only issue is that one of her liver levels is a bit above normal, not a big concern, she said, but something she’ll check the day of the procedure. If it’s higher, she’d delay the procedure. She said sometimes this could be related to the tartar itself.

I recall seeing a post here on the BRAT blog recently about someone having their basenji go through the same procedure, and I remember the main caveat was to make sure that the vet is mindful of basenjis ability to take anesthesia compared to dogs with a different body muscle/fat ratio. She said she’s done this on a number of sight hounds and basenjis and is well aware of the precautions required.

So, I would appreciate any other concerns or preparations from those whose basenjis have been through this process. Fortunately she said that Bow’s teeth are in reasonably good shape for a seven-year-old, especially her back teeth which, as she put it, “Bow has done a nice job of tending to herself.” She also said that we would likely need to have me start brushing Bow’s teeth after the procedure. Are there any tips on those who’ve been through that process?

Next Shelter Challenge Begins Monday!

Ready to Vote?

The next Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge - together with Petfinder.com begins on Monday, January 18th, 2010.

Basenji lovers, start your engines! This time, they're doubling the number of weekly prize winners to two per week. Last time, with your incredible voting support BRAT won both the state prize (for Texas) of $1000, and we won one of the weekly prizes of $1000. That meant that BRAT was able to put an extra $2000 toward rescuing basenjis like Pona, the little boy in Texas who was heartworm positive and had a broken leg, and Kiya & Sabre, who were found just this week starving to death and barely clinging to life. With your help and your votes, we stand a very good chance of winning one of the top prizes this time (either $20,000, $5,000, or $3,000). Last time we were in second-place for a really long time but we slipped to 5th place at the end... this time I know we can do it! Just think of all the basenjis we could help with that extra money, and all of the people who could be so much happier with a rescued basenji in their lives :)

So spread the word and get ready to vote on Monday! Sign up now for daily vote reminders and tell your friends to get them too! Vote at work, and at home! Most importantly, vote EVERY DAY for Basenji Rescue and Transport (in Garland, Texas) so we can save more dogs' lives!

Bandit and the SWAT Team

Bandit was the last pup left in Rappin’s litter. I don’t know what I was thinking when I sent her off to be spayed and left Bandit alone in the backyard while I went to work. He was about 8 months old. When I arrived home from work that evening my neighbor came over to tell me that something had happened with “the dog” that day. I knew he was safe because he was standing at my feet when I met her at the door. I thought maybe he got out and killed a cat or some other little critter.

She proceeded to tell me the following story.

Bandit was howling and moaning because he was all alone. The neighbors (others … she was at work), called the police because they thought someone was injured. Police came out, walked around the house but only found this little red and white dog in the back. They went back out front and the moaning started again. Again, they check out the backyard, and the moaning stopped. They finally reached the conclusion that someone was being held hostage in her unit and called for the SWAT team.

While waiting for the SWAT team to arrive, they went around the neighborhood and told the other neighbors to either leave, or lay down on the floor in the back of their houses. (I heard this from another neighbor!)

SWAT team arrived. Bullhorn announcements informed the “Kidnappers” that they were surrounded and they should come out with their hands in the air. Of course, by this time all the commotion was interesting and Bandit shut up. Finally, no response from the “kidnappers” or the hostage, police broke down my neighbor’s front door to find a completely empty house!

At this point they called her and she explained it was the dog. They didn’t believe her at first, but she finally convinced them.

Now, how do you stand in front of someone and listen to that story and try to appear appropriately contrite about the inconvenience and damage to the door? I don’t know how I did it … but I didn’t crack a smile … until later!

Rappin, Bandit, and I were sitting on the front porch on the following Saturday and several neighbors dropped by to tell us what an exciting event that was!! Thankfully, they all thought it was pretty funny!

-Jackie Iddings (via the BRAT-Chat list)

How to Impersonate Kip when he Gets a New Toy

How to impersonate my dog Kip (when he gets a new toy) in just 10 easy steps!

Step 1: Lunge at Hannah and the rest of the family as they enter the house, bags in hand.

Step 2: Run up to each of them and twirl, jump, and wag tail like they haven't been home for years.

Step 3: Watch Hannah curiously as she pulls something furry out of a bag.

Step 4: Leap up at the furry thing and grab onto it, trying to get it out of her hand.

Step 5: Once she lets go, hold the toy tightly in mouth, and whip head around. Drop toy, pounce on it, and then proceed to chew on it.

Step 6: Leave to go do something else (like sleeping).

Step 7: When the family is in a different room (preferably in the same day, or the day after the toy was received) go back to the toy and chew off all protruding parts (ears, tails, legs, eyes etc.).

Step 8: Watch as a family member sighs and picks up all the toy's stuffing to discard it. Soon all the unattached arms, legs, tails etc. will just be added to one of the two dog toy boxes.

Step 9: Be artistic and remove every single toy from the toy boxes and place them in a neat circle, sit in the middle of the circle, pose handsomely and take a couple pictures, as shown below:

Step 10: Deny accusations that family members set up the toys and took the pictures.

Hope you enjoyed it!
~Hannah

Tales of a Sunday Night with Basenjis

For anyone wondering what life with basenjis is REALLY like (and for all those who already know, and will appreciate this), I decided to write a play-by-play of a typical evening with my basenjis. This is a Sunday night, as it actually happened:

11:00pm - After a busy day at the inlaws' house, then walking dogs, playing with dogs, cleaning house, and prepping for work tomorrow, it is FINALLY time to curl up under a blanket on the couch in the living room. I'm going to try and finish the really good book I've been reading all week.

11:01pm - Reef (4yo female basenji) gets a bone out of the toy basket. Biko (4yo male basenji) immediately steals the bone and starts to gnaw it. Reef steals bone back and makes a break for the dining room with it. This starts the B500 around the living room and dining room table. Both dogs use couches as a backboard to bank turns.

11:02pm - All couch pillows now on floor. I get up to put them back, while dogs play chicken with each other on the arms of the couches. B500 again, pillows on floor. Reef tries to eat pillow, wrings it around. I tell her "No!" Biko grabs different pillow and drags it to dining room. I tell him "No!" and trade pillows for toys. Dogs play tug-of-war with toys and wrestle with each other.

11:10pm - Reef tries to get away from Biko, jumps on top of loveseat. Decides to eat blanket on top of loveseat. I tell her "No!" so she grabs a pillow again and tries to eat it. I get up and retrieve the pillow from her. She thinks I want to play, and runs a few laps around living room. Biko chases. Both dogs crash into entertainment center.

11:17pm - Reef plays chicken from the dining room. Biko hunts her from the living room. Biko crouches down, ready to pounce. Reef tries to crawl under a dining room chair. Bik o grabs her by her scruff and drags her out sideways. Reef goes ballistic and runs several laps around the dining room table. Reef hides under dining room table. Biko stalks her. While hiding, Reef decides to try and eat a chair leg. I give a stern "No!" Reef decides to try and eat a chair seat. "No!" Reef tries to sneak out from under the table. Biko sees her and pounces. In her frenzy, Reef grabs the edge of the dining room tablecloth and yanks it, knocking over two glass candlesticks on table. I leap up and yell "NO!!" Reef clearly thinks this is funny, and runs like crazy.

11:20pm - I command the dogs to separate couches to lay down and be calm for a while. Miraculously, they listen to me. For about 10 seconds. A car pulls up in a neighbor's driveway, so both dogs run like mad to the window. On the way back, Reef chases her tail. Biko chases Reef. Reef jumps on couch and starts to dig. I give the command "No dig!" and she stops. She bucks around on the couch for awhile, intentionally knocking each pillow to the floor, even the huge couch-back pillows. Gets bored, goes over to Biko and paws and bows at him until he jumps up and chases her again.

11:33pm - Reef finds toy, eats it while Biko tries to wrestle with her. Reef gets her blue rubber ball out of toy basket. Both dogs chase it until they lose it under a couch.& nbsp; Biko wrestles Reef onto her back. Reef, still on her back, finds toy and eats it, while Biko wrestles her. Reef gets another toy out of toy basket. Biko steals it. Reef gets another toy. Biko steals it. Reef gets stuffed Piglet toy out of toy basket, and eats both of Piglet's ears off (she already destuffed Pooh yesterday). I rescue Piglet before he loses a leg, and put him on the coffee table. Reef steals Piglet from coffee table and takes off with him for several laps around the dining room table.

11:35pm - Trade Piglet for a bone. Reef eats bone, gets bored. Tries stealing my pen from the coffee table. I command her "Off!" She sulks off to her toy basket, and starts eating that instead. Not the toys, the actual basket.

11:38pm - Biko gets red squishy ball out of toy basket. Reef steals it and rips it to shreds. I get up and clean up ball fragments. Biko gets squeaky rubber ball out of toy basket, but loses it under the couch. Digs at couch until I get it for him. Immediately loses it again. I decide I give up on reading my book.

11:42pm - All toys are now out of the toy basket. Reef finds a golf ball my husband putted into a corner. Eats golf ball. I don't really care anymore, so I let her have it as long as she's not swallowing the pieces. Dogs wrestle and run some more. Try to eat pillows again. I get up and put the pillows on top of the TV.

11:53pm - The living room looks like a war zone. The dogs finally get tired of trying to eat each other, and plop down on the couch on either side of me. Biko tries his best to squeeze between my body and the back of the couch. I give him a blanket instead, and he burrows into that. Reef puts her head in my lap and looks up at me. I can't help but love them. I finally finish my book.

BRAT's 2009 Rescue Report

This past year was another very busy one for Basenji Rescue & Transport, Inc. The terrible economy took a real toll on basenjis, leaving many financially strapped owners no alternative but to relinquish their dogs to rescue.

All told, our Coordinators placed 296 dogs in new homes. Here is a list of all dogs placed last year, along with their state of origin.

If you would like more information about joining BRAT, click here.

Thank you to everyone involved in these placements. I will post the names of all of our foster homes at a later time. During the eleven years of BRAT's existence, more than 3,000 basenjis have found loving homes thanks to your efforts and donations. That is an incredible achievement.

Abbey MA
Abbie/Abiba CA
Abu Babie FL
Achilles OH
Adia MA
Akilah NC
Akua IL
Alfie MO
Allie MD
Ally/Hallie TX
Angel AZ
Annie OH
Ansel OH
Anubis IN
Anubis FL
Arrow AL
Ashanti FL
Ashley MO
Austin MO
Ball Of Fire (Missy) MO
Bana TX
Bandit FL
Banjo kna Poochini IA
Banksey TX
Barney/Bryon AR
BB FL
Bear TX
Bear RI
Bei Bei/Banjo NV
Bella TX
Bella TN
Bella Mia MI
Belle/Liberty Bell OK
Ben GA
Benny CA
Benny/Bakari MO
Benny/Tut MA
Bentley OK
Benz FL
Bes CA
Bijoux nka Kayli CA
Billy IA
Bindi TX
Bizi FL
BJ TX
Bogey MO
Boomer/Bo FL
Brady NJ
Bruiser/Brucie/Tippy TX
Bungee NJ
Burner MN
Buster NY
Buster TX
Cairo AL
Cairo GA
Cami nka Sophie MO
Carlotta KY
Carrie KS
Cassie TX
Cassie/Lucy CA
Catherine PA
Champ AZ
Chance OK
Chantilly TX
Charlie MO
Charlie IA
Charlie MN
Charlotte TX
Charlotte MI
Chic PA
Chloe IL
Cleo FL
Cleo TX
Cleo FL
Cleo AZ
Cleo FL
Cleo nka Lucy CA
Congo WA
Cooper OH
Copper SC
Cowboy TX
Dave/Phoenix TN
Dawson IN
Deacon MD
Deuce IL
Dixie GA
DJ GA
Djembe PA
Dotty TX
Duke fka Spook PA
Dutchess IN
Ellie IA
Elsie NM
Eric KY
Fawn FL
Fire MO
Floyd PA
Folley nka Scout DC
Franklin IA
Fred TX
Freddy MN
Ginger KY
Gizmo FL
Gwen VA
Gypsy MI
Harley TX
Heather MO
Henry fka Taz PA
Holly MO
Hootch NY
I-Max TX
I-Prince TX
Isabelle/Izzy MO
Isis PA
I-Starling/Princess TX
I-Sugar TX
Jack IL
Jade FL
Jade/Zahra VA
Jake MN
Jake nka Hunter WA
Jazz WA
Jeeves MN
Jing Jing/Dusty NV
Jonny MO
Jordan CA
June CA
Junior MI
Juno VA
Kaia PA
Kal IA
Kalimba PA
Katrina IL
Kayley ID
Keba PA
Kennedy MO
Keops NY
Khairo MN
Khaki FL
Kia TX
Kibbi TX
Kira CA
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Reno Bambino, our Crown Prince and First-Born Basenji, was born on January 1, 1992. We adopted him, a pre-BRAT local rescue, on December 19, 1993. Our lives have never been the same.

Reno was the center of our lives and home until January 13, 2003 when he died suddenly and unexpectedly from what was most likely a stroke. Again, our lives have never been the same. We have never stopped loving Reno. When you lose someone so beloved and central to your very existence, the cost for such love is great.

If God had said, "You can have him for nine years, one month, and six days, and then I'll take him home," would we have even heard, so enchanted were we with Reno.

In the years since we lost Reno, the shattered bits of my broken heart have slowly settled into a kaleidoscope of memories. Since this is Reno's birthday I'd like to share just a very few of these memories.

Reno filled our hearts and lives with laughter and joy, sheer absolute joy simply because he was Reno. As Reno's birthday was January first, we began our tradition of staying home on New Year's Eve because I didn't want Reno's birthday to start while we were out. I didn't want my baby to be alone or with a baby-sitter when his birthday began.

He gave us paw waves when we came home, shook hands, gave me hugs and kisses, and signed cards by biting off a corner. Reno slept with his head on my pillow, just like a little person.

We went to obedience classes with a wonderful instructor who was very patient with us, Reno's doting but inexperienced parents. We went to agility classes with the same instructor. These were indoors, on leash, and Reno had a great time. (Our boy did not get along with other dogs because of some bad experiences before we adopted him that caused him to lose the sight in his right eye). I crawled through the tunnel to show Reno it was OK, and I ran along side him, jumping all the jumps. When we got to the tire jump, Eric stood on one side and I stood on the other, encouraging him through. Eric and I walked on each side of elevated dog walk, ready to catch Reno, but he never faltered.

The children in our neighborhood greeted me in the grocery store with "Hi Weno's mom." We logged a lot of miles on our walks with Reno. At the park, we'd pull out his long leash and let him chase squirrels. I'm very grateful Reno was energetic and happy right up to the day he died.

Reno taught us so much and gave us even more. If not for Reno, we wouldn't be part of BRAT, we wouldn't have met so many dedicated people and wonderful dogs. If not for Reno, our lives would not be as rich or joyful. Think of all we would have missed if not for Reno Bambino.

People told us Reno was lucky we found him, but as everyone with a rescued dog knows, we're the lucky ones.