Happy Father's Day

I am very fortunate that Eric and I are both delighted to share our lives with Ivan and Dasa. It makes day to day life so much easier and more joyful, and was absolutely essential last summer when Ivan had surgery and required so much care.
Sometimes I receive calls from people who want to give up their dogs because their spouse/significant other doesn’t like the dog. Just as it is important for everyone to be in accord on the addition of a human child, it is equally important to make sure adopting a dog has the full support of the family. There is usually trouble if one family member decides to get the dog over the objections or ambivalence of another. This is a decision that requires research, discussion, and realistic assessment of how much commitment is involved, whose schedules can accommodate taking care of the dog, the expense entailed, etc. How will the family train the dog, how will problems be resolved. . . . This helps to avoid situations in which the dog is sent to the pound or rescue is called in at the very last minute because the dog chewed the couch.
(One might not be able to completely avoid inappropriate chewing, but it helps everyone to realize that adopting a dog includes this possibility. )

When people write to BRAT-Help inquiring about adopting a basenji, I include some of the following information in my reply:

Adding a new family member is an important step, and there are a lot of factors to consider including your lifestyle and expectations, the dog’s personality, and the personality(ies) of other animals in your family. The research and preparation you do in advance will help you make an informed decision and help to make this transition as smooth as possible.

The information you provide on your application will help us find the right dog for you. Your individual situation is important to consider in basenji rescue because we are looking for the best home for the dog. The process of adopting a basenji is similar to adopting a child, as we consider the adoption of a dog to be a commitment for the life of the dog and do our very best to find the right home.
If you are interested in adopting a rescue basenji, please visit the BRAT web page www.basenjirescue.org, where you can find our "Frequently Asked Questions About BRAT," read some reality stories about basenjis, view available rescues, complete an adoption application, and find other helpful links and information.
In honor of all the good dog fathers everywhere who provide stable loving homes for their basenjis, Happy Father’s Day.