A Month In The Life of Asta and Apollo

April 2011
Asta loves to sit in the window and look out on the traffic on 34th Street.

Apollo is a heat seeking missile.

Asta and Apollo went to Ondine's studio and helped to create art.

One day in April, Ondine came home to a cabinet open and each, individual cleaner container carefully plucked out from under the sink.

The boys spread out their booty all over the living room.




After all that fuss and muss, the boys had to get their rest and relaxation.


Yesterday, we came home and found that all of our bills had been shredded by the poochi-simos.

After we cleaned up the bills and made the bed, Asta had to christen it with his fabulous Basenji smell (like warm peanuts).

And that, is a month in the life of Asta and Apollo for April, 2011.

New Available BRATs: Ziva, Lady Zen, Filou, and Cisco

NAME: Ziva
DOG STATE: Iowa
DOB: 10/28/2008
GENDER: Female
COLOR: Black & White
WEIGHT: 22

This dainty but spirited little two-year-old girl gets along well with everyone – men, women, children and other dogs. She has a shiny coat, nice basenji “worry wrinkles,” a classic basenji tail and bright eyes that watch you all the time. Ziva loves people time and one of her most notable characteristics is being a little shadow to her foster people. She loves to tear around the dog park at top speed, pretending she is in Africa, out on the open plains! But with lots of exercise and quality time with her human companions, Ziva is calm at home.

Click HERE to learn more about Ziva!

NAME: Lady Zen
DOG STATE: Illinois
DOB: 12/28/2005
GENDER: Female
COLOR: Tricolor
WEIGHT: 13

Lady Zen is a beautiful 5-year-old female that wants a castle of her own. She needs a home that is basenji savvy and that has a secured yard with preferably a wood fence to keep her safe. When Lady Zen meets new people, she is cautious at first. But, give her a treat and she will love you for life. Her hair rises on the back of her neck when she is approaching you for the first time. If you say her name and squat down to her level, Lady Zen relaxes. She is ready for a home where she can be loved and pampered and interact with people. She loves to be with people. Is yours the right home for Lady Zen?

Click HERE to read more about Lady Zen!

NAME: Filou
DOG STATE: New York
DOB: 2000
GENDER: Male
COLOR: Red and white
WEIGHT: 35

Filou is a mellow, refined gentleman who understands French as well as English. He likes his kibble "spiced up" with bits of steak, fish or even veggies you might be eating. Ice cream for dessert is expected. He is calm and well-mannered, and he walks well on a leash. King of his castle, he has never needed to be crated. The typical basenji, Filou will seek sunny spots to lounge in. Filou's continental background will make him a very special addition to your home.

Click HERE to read more about Filou, and to see a list of French commands that he understands!

NAME: Cisco
DOG STATE: Arizona
DOB: 06/17/2005
GENDER: Male
COLOR: Red and white
WEIGHT: 29.4

Cisco is a particularly handsome, very active and VERY loving Basenji boy. He is very shy upon first meeting, but after warms up after introductions. He appears to tolerate other dogs quite nicely, and does well at the dog park. Like all B's he enjoys a walk and has the ability to pull with authority, but commonly is a sedate walker for a B. Cisco is quite capable of doing the Basenji-500 and sounds like a herd of wild horses charging thru the house but thus far has missed most of the furniture. He does have some young adult Basenji energy!

Click HERE to read more about Cisco!

These Basenjis and more can be found on BRAT's main website. Please take a look!

What Difference Does Food Make?

For several years now, I've been listening to dog owners duke it out about whether it truly matters what food you feed your dog. Of course, if your dog has a sensitive stomach or is allergic to something, such as wheat, then it's a no-brainer that it does matter, and you would need to feed your dog a gluten-free food. But I'm talking about the vast majority of dogs out there who aren't allergic to anything, and who don't have particular dietary requirements -- does it really matter what kind of dog food we choose to feed them?

I can't say I've done my homework about this topic because I really haven't, but as I mentioned, I've been listening to the banter for years between dog owners and on BRAT-chat. To be honest, I had always sort of dismissed the idea that a more expensive food would make a dog healthier, because it all just sort of looks like brown kibble to me. Plus, I'm on a really tight budget (as most of us are) and a $50 bag of dog food just didn't seem worth it when I could get the same-size bag in a cheap brand for $15.

But then, two years ago, I went to my first BRAT Convention up in Syracuse NY. I met lots of basenji owners and basenjis, and I noticed that some of the basenjis had the softest, most beautiful fur I'd ever felt on a dog. I commented several times to several different owners about what wonderful coats their dogs had, and every single one of them said that it was because of the food their dogs eat. I started to wonder whether there was something to this food argument, after all.

The brands the owners said they fed their dogs were all different, so in the course of conversation I asked each owner why they chose that particular brand of food over others. Every single one of them said that the key to choosing a good dog food is to flip the bag over and read the actual list of ingredients on the label. Not the advertised ingredients on the front of the bag, because that can easily be misleading (I mean really, how am I supposed to know that "made with chicken" doesn't actually mean there's chicken meat in the food??). Rather, read the actual list of ingredients that go into the dog food. The first two ingredients are the ones that matter the most, because they are what the majority of the food is made of. If it says "chicken," then your food is made with actual chicken meat. If it says "chicken meal," that means chicken meat with the skin and bones and stuff ground up in it. If it says "chicken by product," then that means it contains the bones, the feathers, the entrails, and all other stuff that you probably want to say away from, and probably very little actual meat. The rest of the stuff they put into dog food is generally just filler, most of which has no nutritional value (wheat and barley husks? That's not even actual wheat or barley grains!) and just makes your dog eat more and poop more. For more info on ingredients, check out www.peteducation.com.

All that made sense to me (and the stuff about by-products made me want to hurl), but I still wondered whether it really mattered. I mean, come on -- most dogs will eat just about ANYTHING you put in front of them, and they seem to continue to grow and thrive regardless. My basenjis had been eating a regular and relatively cheap name-brand food for years, and they seemed just fine. But, I was still intrigued by the shiny, soft coats and the sparkling eyes of the basenjis I'd met at the Convention. Would they live longer than my dogs because they were healthier? Were they happier than my dogs because they felt better? Was it easier to keep them fit because they ate more quality calories than empty calories? Did they really eat and poop less, as everyone claimed? I had to find out for myself.

Being the time-crunched shopper that I am, I checked out all of the major chain stores that I frequent (WalMart, Target, Petsmart, Petco, Costco), and found that none of them carried any of the "high quality" brands that other basenji owners had been talking about. Crap. I looked up the high quality foods on their company websites, and found that the closest distributor that carried any of them was a specialty pet store a half hour away, who grossly jacked up the price. Double crap. To order the food over the internet would be to pay a lot extra for shipping, which I just couldn't justify. So, I did the next-best thing I could think of: I went to WalMart and found the "best" food they had there (NaturaLife Lamaderm, $25/big bag, made from lamb meal) and switched to that.

When you switch a dog's food you have to mix the old with the new for a while so it doesn't upset the dog's stomach, but after about a week I was feeding only the new food. About two weeks after that, I noticed my dogs' fur getting softer. Within a month, it literally began to shine. Maybe I made it up, but I swear their eyes got brighter, too. I went from feeding each dog 2 cups/day to about 1.5 cups/day, which was all that they seemed to want because I keep their bowls full so they can eat until they're satisfied. Both of my dogs have always had tons of energy so I don't know if that was affected at all, but I did notice that Reef seemed a little less pudgy on the same amount of exercise. And I have no idea if they pooped less often, but the piles did actually seem a little smaller :) All in all, I was convinced that the improvement in the quality of their food really made a difference.

That was about 2 years ago, and my dogs have been very healthy thus far. Just about two months ago, however, I noticed that Petco made a bold move to differentiate itself in the pet products market, and started to carry high-quality dog foods. These were the brands I had been looking for originally, which the other basenji owners swore by -- brands like Innova, Blue Buffalo, Canidae, Orijen, Wysong, and more. Yay, Petco! So this week I decided to stop by Petco and picked up a bag of high quality dog food. I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the choice I was presented with, and I spent nearly an hour in the store reading ingredient labels.

In the end, I chose Innova's Poultry formula, because the first ingredient was turkey, the second was chicken, the third was chicken meal, and there were very few fillers. The prices were all about the same - about $50 for the big bag, but Petco promises that if the dogs don't like it, I can bring it back for a full refund. My goal is to gradually switch over and feed the new food for a month or two, to see if it will make even more of a difference in my dogs' health and well-being. If my first experience with a better-quality dog food is any indicator, with a high-quality dog food I hope to see silky soft coats, lots of healthy energy, and a devilish little basenji eye twinkle. Not that I need my dogs to get any smarter than they already are (...yikes!), but I look forward to them living longer, healthier, happier lives. Stay tuned for an update in the next few months!

Acute Mudpuddleitis

(I thought I would share this silly story from my supersenji blog)


It is with great sadness that I must inform you that poor little Toni developed a case of acute mudpuddleitis yesterday. Mudpuddleitis is a very serious affliction that effects 1 out of 200 basenjis every spring. It is typically brought on when the basenji is on a walk and is not paying attention and falls sideways into a giant mud puddle. Primary symptoms of the disease include the basenji loosing the ability to move any limb that has become covered in mud. Secondary symptoms include the basenji having a stupefied look on their face and/or screaming or pathetic crying. In extreme cases such as Toni's the mud covered hind leg was completely withdrawn into the body and the remaining 3 legs became stiff and she suffered a temporary paralysis.
Treatment: The only known treatment for mudpuddleitis is a combination therapy of generous pets to the back, soft stroking of the ears, and jubilant praise of "good girl!".
Side effects: washing the afflicted basenji will leave a big brown ring around your bathtub.

2011 Convention

I can't believe the Convention is less than 7 weeks away! If you have never attended I strongly urge you to GO!!! You will have alot of fun, meet basenji people and be able to put names to faces. Not to mention being immersed in basenjis! You won't bore anyone with basenji stories. Everybody who attends LOVES to talk basenji. The Convention is all about celebrating basenjis whether you are an adopter or have become a BRAT volunteer. I adopted and joined BRAT in 2005. I brought my family to the 2006 Convention held in Lancaster, PA. While the roster of active stationmasters has evolved since then, I think it was pivotal for me to attend that convention. If you are a member of BRAT and would like to be more involved within the organization, I highly recommend you attend the convention. I started out as an adopter and let it be known I wanted to be more active/involved. I can guarantee you won't be forgotten and will be taken up on your offer. Whatever ties you to BRAT, I highly recommend attending the Convention. There are some fantastic seminars planned and activities scheduled. http://www.basenjirescue.org/Convention2011.htm Enjoy and revel in the camaraderie! Roberta Kosek Vice President

Three lovely ladies new to BRAT: Ginger, Maggie, Tasha

NAME: Ginger
DOG STATE: North Carolina
DOB: 2005
GENDER: Female
COLOR: Red and white
WEIGHT: 20

Ginger is a bit of a mystery lady. She was left at an animal shelter late one night, with no identification. However, she wasted no time in charming everyone she met, adults and children alike. She loves to snuggle on the couch, and get her ears and belly rubbed. She has excellent house manners, is eager to please, and is in good overall health. She has a few typical "Basenji" habits that her new family has to be aware of (she will escape and raid the trash if given the chance). It is evident that Ginger came from a loving home, and now she is in need of a new one.

Please click HERE to learn more about Ginger!


NAME: Maggie
DOG STATE: South Carolina
DOB: 2005?
GENDER: Female
COLOR: Tricolor
WEIGHT: 20

Maggie is a beautiful, healthy, 5 1/2 year old tricolor girl looking for a good home. We know little about her past, other than suspecting that she was a puppy mill girl at one time. Maggie is extremely sensitive and responds better to encouragement than reprimands. She is exceptionally gentle, does not mind being picked up, touched or moved. She would flourish in a one or two person home, with someone that is home most of the time, or someone she could accompany to work. The important issue is that she needs a low key home where she can have time to settle in and feel safe. With a patient, understanding owner, she will learn how to expand her world and learn the joy of belonging to a loving, stable home.

Please click HERE to learn more about Maggie!


NAME: Tasha
DOG STATE: Michigan
DOB: December 2005
GENDER: Female
COLOR: Red and white
WEIGHT: 17.7

Tasha is a sweet little girl who came from a bad situation where she was competing for food, space, and affection. She is unsure of many things and people as she wasn't exposed too much until coming to BRAT, but it is apparent that she has a lot of love to give. She is curious and loves to sniff around her new environment, though she is still very skittish. Tasha will take some time to warm up to her new family/person. But this little gift is worth the wait.


Please click HERE to learn more about Tasha!

Interested in adopting a Basenji? Please take a look at more available dogs on the main BRAT page.

Look Into My Eyes and Give Me Your Food

I’m always bemused at tales of faithful dogs who ride in the back seat next to a pizza and don’t eat it, box and all, before they arrive home. Come to think of it, I know several people who couldn’t be trusted to show such restraint.

My munchkins are very food motivated. All of our basenji children have been enthusiastic about food. Little Leo, our sweet golden oldie was too polite to actually steal food, but he thought mealtimes were really wonderful.

Reno, our first-born basenji was quite fond of treats. He knew I kept a supply in my jeans pocket, to be tapped into throughout the day. I remember a time when Reno and I were doing yard work and my struggles with a stubborn sapling resulted in a tumble backwards. As I lay flat on my back, Reno trotted briskly over and I thought, “How sweet, my baby has come to see if I’m OK.” Instead, as he nosed and pawed at my pocket, I realized he had quickly deduced this prone position meant the treat pocket was now within his reach.

Dasa is even more willing to steal food from my hand than Ivan. My dainty little girl would happily take all of a sandwich in nearly one gulp, leaving only the smallest bit held between my thumb and forefinger. Dasa would also cheerfully steal food during its journey from fork to mouth. Ivan can reach parts of the counter that make it difficult to maintain a safe Ivan Free Zone. Neither of them would feel the slightest hesitation before stealing food off the table if they had the opportunity.

Crumbs are crucial sources of nourishment. Ivan recently decided there must be a toast crumb on the table, and he was determined to get it. When I left a chair pushed away from the table, he found his chance. So, of course, being the rigid parent that I am, I stopped to take photos before I made him get off the table. After a certain period of time as a basenji parent, I think my brain processes information differently. No matter what mischief they’re perpetuating, I’ve been conditioned by the basenji mind-meld, the cute tail wag, the baroo, and the beautiful and mesmerizing almond-shaped eyes to marvel at my smart, cute, clever, and amazing munchkins, and to give them lots of treats. My eyelids are getting heavy. On the count of three, I’ll hand over the treat jar and make sandwiches for them.

Remembering Bow

Several of you have been following the ups and downs of the past year of the journey Bow and I have had with her brain tumor.

That journey ended on March 30 when it was clear that she had, at best, only a couple of weeks left. Most of her days were spent sleeping and when she was awake she would either spin constantly, pace the house with her head down so disoriented that she bumped into walls and furniture. When I called her or asked her to sit, she would spin around trying to find me, often managing to halfway sit in her best effort to please but often facing away from me and not sure where I was.

She could still walk, but just barely. And on the sunny days that used to be her absolute favorites, the bright light made it impossible for her to move as she hung her head and closed her eyes.

Although we’d gone six weeks without seizures, her level of medications had reached a point that they would soon become toxic and there was the very real chance that she could have violent cluster seizures in the middle of the night that would have been an agonizing farewell that I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Her primary vet, most dog-savvy friends, and her two specialists all agreed that it was time to say goodbye. Horrible as this farewell was, it had the peace, dignity and loving touch that was befitting of Bow. I had debated having it done at home or at the specialist’s office and finally opted for the latter. It is a beautiful facility that feels more like a resort than a clinic, and she was comfortable and felt safe there right through the moment of her last breath as she rested her head on my knee.When she was diagnosed with the tumor in February 2010, we were told she had maybe two months left. The stereotactic radiosurgery done at UC Davis managed to make her first tumor go into complete remission, but a new, larger one developed in December. To do initial radiation would mean exposing the tissue treated last year to a level of radiation that all of the doctors agreed was not worth the level of risk.

The support I have had since her departure, especially from the BRAT community has been overwhelming. The grief has been enormous, but I keep thinking about all of the incredible gifts Bow gave me during our two and a half years together. I had not had a dog in my adult life, and she was a tremendous teacher.

In the future when I make a home visit for potential basenji adopters, I will know all of the right questions because of all that Bow taught me to look out for. And in that moment, I will know that she is there.

When I am asked to evaluate a new basenji coming into rescue, I will be confident determining its temperament, manners and behavior because she showed me the full range of what to expect from a basenji. And in that moment, I will know that she is there.

Once I have reached the point where I know the time is right, and I feel I’ve received a sign from Bow on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, I know I will be able to bring a new basenji into Bow’s home. When we take our first walk, and there is a tug on the leash or a reaction to another dog walking by us, I will know just what to do because of all that I learned from Bow. And in that moment, I will know that she is there.

When I am with another creature – be it a basenji or a human – and I become frustrated and want to demand respect and have my authority recognized, I will pause and remember all that I learned from Bow. I will take a breath, remember to act with the same gentle, consistent and patient leadership that helped Bow feel confident and willing to obey. And in that moment I will know that she is there.

In my darkest, most discouraging moments when I feel that all is hopeless I will remember the most important lesson I learned from Bow. She let me know that I still had the capacity to give and receive unconditional love. She may not be by my side, but the love we shared is no less present than it was on our last day together and it is something that I know I will eventually be able to share with another basenji. And when another pair of almond eyes look up at me willing to make an attempt to trust me and see if we are prepared to share a life together, I will remember all that Bow taught me that will give me the confidence to be a good guardian. And in that moment I will know that she is there.

2011 BRAT Convention Details

The 2011 Ninth Annual BRAT Convention dates have been announced! The Convention will be held on June 9-11th, at the Embassy Suites, Rosemont, IL. It is a very affordable, pet friendly 4-Star hotel in suburban Chicago. The Convention is open to all BRAT volunteers, adopters, adoption applicants, and friends. We hope that you will join us!

This page is an announcement of convention details as of 4/11/11. A permanent website with all of the latest details is available at: http://www.planetreg.com/E33114595227

• Subscribe to our Convention Email List if you are thinking about going to the Convention, to receive all Convention information and announcements.

• Visit the Convention Registration site to register to attend the BRAT Convention, pay for convention meals, and order BRAT souvenir items for delivery at the convention.
• Visit the Hotel website to find general information about the hotel amenities and location.
• Visit the Hotel Reservation site or call 1-800-EMBASSY to book your hotel room in the BRAT room block, at our group rate (identify yourself as part of the Basenji Rescue and Transport/BRAT group). The Group rate is available until May 31, or until the room block is sold out, or until the hotel reaches 90% capacity, whichever comes first. Specific room info is below.

HOTEL INFORMATION:

· LOCATION: The hotel is located near O’Hare airport and offers free shuttle service to and from the airport. The hotel location is convenient to I-90 and I-294 for those who are driving. It is two blocks from the CTA Blue Line for those who want to explore the Chicago Downtown area but who do not want to drive.

· GUEST ROOMS: The quoted room rates below are good for June 8 – 13. All rooms are non-smoking.

o King Basic Suite: $98/night (+ taxes & fees), single or double occupancy.

o Two Double Bed Basic Suite: $118/night (+ taxes & fees), single or double occupancy. The hotel has a limited number of rooms with 2 double beds, so make your reservations early!

· PET DEPOSIT: There is a $25 onetime per stay, non-refundable deposit for dogs. If dogs are to be left alone in the guest room, they must be crated.

· PARKING: The parking rate for BRAT participants is $10.00 (reduced from the usual $20/day). This includes unlimited in and out privileges. When you make your reservation, it may mention a parking fee of $23.00, but that will be changed when you get to the hotel.

· AMENITIES: Room rates include a full individually prepared breakfast, served daily in the Atrium, for each registered guest. Room amenities include a microwave, a small refrigerator, a separate sitting area with a couch and television. Internet is available for $6/day in guest rooms, but internet access is free in the Business Center.

· THE FINE PRINT:

o Guaranteed Reservations: The Hotel’s 24 hour Advance Cancellation Policy on Individual Reservations will apply to all reservations made under this block. The Group agrees to advise all attendees of this policy.

o No-Shows: No shows will be charged the contracted nightly rate and tax for each night the reserved room is not occupied by the individual. The hotel will not pay commission on No Shows as it is not a guaranteed form of payment.

o Early Departure Fee: At check-in, all guests will be asked to verify their departure dates. Any guests subsequently departing prior to the reconfirmed departure date will be assessed an early departure fee of $75.00.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

JUNE 9
o 1:00pm: District Coordinators lunch followed by meeting.
o 6:30pm – 7:30pm: Meet and Greet for all attendees

JUNE 10
o 8:30am – 5:00pm: Day 1 Activities
o 12:00pm - 1:30pm: Lunch in the Atrium (Optional)
o 6:00pm - Picnic

JUNE 11

o 8:30am – 5:00pm: Day 2 Activities

o 6:30pm - Banquet Dinner followed by the Silent Auction

If you have any questions, please contact B.Ann Hageman at b.ann321@comcast.net. We hope to see you and your basenji(s) at the convention!

Its a Bird, Its a Plane, Its UNDERWEAR DOG!!!

The other day I was doing laundry and as I was putting clothes in the machine I heard the dog tags from our kids collars rattling around. I went to see what type of trouble they were getting

into and found Phoenix rolling around in sheer bliss on a pile of dirty laundry. I smiled and went back to doing what I was doing...not wanting to ruin his fun. When I came out of the laundry room I found him standing in the doorway entrance with a pair of my husbands underwear hanging around his neck. In his wild abandonment he must have got his head thru one of the openings. He just stood there looking at me then started trotting around looking as proud as can be without trying to take it off. It was as if it belonged there. That's when i realized he thought it was his superhero cape.

Emergency Moments???

Hello again!!! My human and I had difficulties picking a topic for this month. However, a most recent event with a boxer friend of mine inspired this topic, especially since spring is upon us and there are all kinds of things us canines can get into - and they say curiosity killed the cat.

So my human and I thought we would write about keeping the canines safe in this time of awakening animals, budding flowers and weeds, and stinging pests. I just hate it when we are out on a walk and she has to shove her fingers down my throat to swipe out what I just happened to pick up off the ground to eat. If I could only help myself to not pick up such things.

Well, my boxer buddy, Miley chased something into the dark by her neighbors' home. By bedtime, her face was swollen, red hives on her belly, throwing up, refusing to eat, not drinking water, had scratches on her face. Her human thinks she chased a bunny up under the neighbor's shed. So my human stressed to Miley's the importance of getting her to the vet asap in case of anaphylactic shock occurring.

So we thought, how does a human know when its time to take a canine for emergency treatment?

Here is an excellent source to know when to take us to the vet for an emergency visit -

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677&aid=2895

And if you dont have a a first aid kit by now, you should really put one together for your four legged friends - here is a link that lists what is best to include -

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677&aid=2881

Oh I almost forgot Miley will be fine; her vet gave her steroid and antihistamine shots along with some extra antihistimine tablets just in case she wanders into another nest of stinging insects. Miley's vet thought she may have gotten into a bee's nest or spider's nest. Oooooohhhh!!!!! Makes my tail curl up tighter than a coil. Until next month, enjoy the sunshine where ever you might be.

A Solution to Your Unrefreshing Basenji Problems

Has your basenji ever touched a piece of furniture, and left weird smells in it's wake? Weird, unrefreshing smells?

Then I have the thing for you! Introducing: Hannah's Refreshing Linen Spray! For when your basenji stinks something up (once again).

All it takes to make is:

- 3 ounces of vodka

- 12 drops of an essential oil (lavender or peppermint for example)

- 12 ounces of organic hydrosol

This Refreshing Linen Spray is super safe for your pet and for the earth! You can freshen up your mattress, pillows, bed linens, couches, fabric chairs, the dog bed.. The possibilities are endless! (As always, though, make sure to test the spray on a small part of the fabric, just in case.)

Currently getting your spring clean on? Then you will NEED my Refreshing Linen Spray. Shoving everything under the bed or into the closet? At least it will smell nice!

Does your basenji leave odd stains on your linens? Make those stains deliciously FRAGANT stains of AWESOMENESS. (Oh yeah. You know you want to.) Your guests won't question that large brown-ish stain on your couch! Just tell them it's a scratch 'n' sniff!

Do people have to wear gas masks in your house? Then RUN, don't WALK, to make my Refreshing Linen Spray!

This spray will solve ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS. (Do you hear that? ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS. Not "all of your problems", ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS.)

So, what are you doing still sitting here reading this? I said RUN!

I hope you and your basenji (s) have a great day.

Until we meet again (I'll give you a hint, it's next month. Same time, same place.),

Hannah Payne

Shelter Challenge 2001: Round 2

It's that time again -- the Animal Rescue Site's Shelter Challenge 2011 is now open for Round 2 of voting!


In the first round, we won again for the shelter with the most votes in the State of Texas. That means that we will get $1000 donated to BRAT from the Animal Rescue Site! In the next 2 rounds, we hope to do even better. Here are the prizes at stake:

• Grand Prize: One $5,000 grant!
• Spring Romp Photo Contest: Three $2,000 grants!
• State Winners*: Fifty-one $1,000 state grants (50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.)
• Canadian Winners*: One $1,000 grant will be awarded.
• International Winner*: One $1,000 grant will be awarded.
• Weekly Winners* Eleven $1,000 grants will be awarded, one for each week of this voting round of the Shelter⁺ Challenge.

So, what do you have to do to help win more money for BRAT? The answer is simple:

VOTE!
Every day.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge
(Search for "basenji" in "Texas")

Vegas: Our First Foster

Vegas, our red and white boy, recruited me to be a BRAT foster mom.  It was March 31, 2002 and Good Friday.  I was visiting at my parent's home and just before lunch found I had an email from a BRAT Coordinator who lived in the Chicago area asking if anyone was near Fairfield, IL.  I wrote back immediately saying I was only 45 minutes away and asked what was needed.  The reply was soon received that a male basenji was in a county shelter there and it was his "last day."  I said I would go evaluate and spring him if he was purebred and I thought I could handle him.
Upon arrival at the shelter I was presented with a pathetically skinny male basenji who the ladies said had been there a month.  They reported his owner brought him in and and said he did not want him because he was mean.  However, it did not take the shelter workers long to decide he was "too nice to put down".  By 2:30 that same day I was driving down the highway with a very scared, but mild
mannered basenji in a crate in the back of my SUV.  Since we were the only BRAT volunteers in downstate Illinois, Vegas seemed to be a very lucky boy that day.

Vetting later revealed Vegas was heart worm positive and our family agreed to foster him for the duration of his treatment.  Since we had a male poodle and female basenji puppy in a two pet limit neighborhood we were not really looking for another basenji at the time.  Vegas convinced us otherwise.  We found that he was indeed a very rare basenji who processed and retained every correction of naughty behavior, carefully avoiding any harsh tones or sprays from the dreaded water
bottle.  By the time he was cleared of heartworm he had also convinced us he was at home with the Newtons and we completed his adoption.

To demonstrate that Vegas truly has a conscience, unlike most basenjis, once when he had an accident on the floor, he put himself in the corner.  He is such a good boy I think he even gets upset when someone else has an accident.

Vegas in the corner because he pottied on the floor.  He went there on his own.

Our very positive fostering experience with Vegas has led to many more foster visitors through the years.  Vegas always welcomes the puppies, tolerates the adult females, but does not like having extra boys around.  We are willing to accommodate his wishes, at least most of the time.

Vegas is having a discussion with Lindy, one of a group of 12 rescued from a puppy mill.

-Liz Newton

The Treat Under the Jar Trick

I recently tried the “get the treat out from under a cup” exercise with Ivan and Dasa. In this exercise, the dog is supposed to overturn the cup and claim the treat, thus proving his problem solving skills.

When we tried this with Reno, he grabbed the cup and ran off with it, sure this was a game of chase. We chased him and rewarded his cleverness. (Our standards for awarding treats are somewhat subjective. Does the subject look cute, does he appear to be trying, paying attention, is he in the same room?)

Eric said the treat under the jar trick does not take into account the dog’s point of view. From their perspective, we are the source of treats and food, aka human Pez dispensers. The treat under the jar trick was illuminating and revealing. It revealed that I’m very well trained.

I showed Ivan the treat and then put it under a plastic storage container on the carpet. This posed no real difficulty as he was able to scoot the container over the treat and gain access. I then tried a tall cylindrical container. This tipped over fairly easily and his attitude about the whole thing became more enthused by the minute. I then tried a sturdy drinking glass. This also tipped over with minimal fuss. Ivan was happy to try any type of container I wanted. These science experiments are fun, Mom. Dasa was content to nibble treats from the hand behind my back while we were in pursuit of excellence and expanding the body of knowledge, as it were.

Then we moved into the kitchen with the sturdy drinking glass. While I praised his efforts, Ivan pushed the glass along with his nose. It scooted across the floor. He looked at me as if to say “hmmm.” Then he pushed it to the edge of the rug and tipped it over. I tried this again, and he pushed it straight to the rug and tipped it over, this time with no side trips around the kitchen.

Later when Ivan was downstairs napping, Dasa and I tried this test in the bedroom. I used a lightweight plastic cup over her treat. I showed Dasa the treat and then put the cup over it. She tilted her head and looked at me. I kept up a steady stream of encouragement as she pushed the cup across the carpet. She stopped and looked at me. I picked up the cup and treat, once again showed her the treat and put the cup over it. At my urging she pushed the cup around a bit more, clearly humoring me in this waste of time. She stopped and sighed. I showed her the treat under the cup again. She pushed it over to me, sat in front of me and placed her little paw on my arm. I immediately gave her that treat and several more, apologized for putting her through this exercise, and told her she’s brilliant.