Basenji in El Paso shelter

[sharronhurlbut]

Got it, lets see what we can do to help this b!

[BasenjiByTheBay]

UPDATE:
I just got a call from the El Paso shelter. They have approved my application - apparently a supervisor or director said the pup should go to someone familiar with the breed if at all possible - sounds like she is basenji-aware. Good news!

So, they are trying to work with my schedule. They are very short on space (they confirmed what Sharron said - lots of homeless dogs in Texas, including lots of b's) so would prefer not to have to hold him for 2 weeks – I don't see how I can get there any sooner, but I'm trying to work something out.

Again, thanks for any help or ideas. If anyone knows anyone heading from TX to San Diego that could take a little B-boy hitchhiker, I'd be glad to pay some expenses etc.

I'm so excited, I want to leave right now!

[BDawg]

Awww!! That is so great!! Keep us posted!!

[BasenjiByTheBay]

I will - and thanks to Sharron for all the great resources. She's a wealth of basenji information!

[sharronhurlbut]

Blush…just doing rescue..laugh..a job with no pay that I love.
Fingers crossed it works out for you.

[EskiLovr]

Congrats on helping a misplaced B find a great home! We cannot wait to see pics of this one in his new "pack"

[ComicDom1]

That puppy is very lucky he found you (cough) you found him.

Jason

[sharronhurlbut]

win/win…happy endings..don't you just love them!

[BasenjiByTheBay]

We're lucky we discovered Basenjis - and so happy we found him. I think Fiji will be happy (ok, maybe not the first day, we'll see) to have a buddy.

We're lucky too to have found this forum. It's been soooo helpful!

[BasenjiDiva]

Yeah!!! And congratulations!

Pat

[BasenjiByTheBay]

Thought I'd update those that have been so encouraging.

Sharron referred me to a BRAT list where I posted requesting help with fostering, transport, or a referral to a good kennel. Meanwhile the shelter was contacting me daily, letting me know I needed to get our basenji boy out of there. The director said they kill 70 dogs a week in El Paso.

Through that list, Helen in New Mexico contacted a friend of hers from middle school(!!)-Kristin- who she thought was living in El Paso. Turns out Kristin is also in NM now, but very close to El Paso. She has a dog, and had lost one recently. No basenji experience but she was willing to help and Helen said she would trust her with her B in a second.

Yesterday Kristin sprung our little B-boy from the shelter, and he is now at home with her and her other doggie. Kristin says it was so gratifying to get him out that she is volunteering to foster other shelter pups.

She reports that Donko (might change that name) is very sweet, curious, willing to be petted but a little aloof. I told her that some folks call basenjis "cats in dog skins" and she said that explained it perfectly - he was acting like a cat. :rolleyes:

I'll be heading to NM a week from Tuesday to pick him up. I'm so grateful to Sharron, Helen, Kristin - and everyone who rescues these babies. Pics to come when my boy comes home and meets his "sis".

[BDawg]

HURRAY!! I can't wait to see pics!!

[sharronhurlbut]

WONDERFUL!
I am so very happy to have been a small help with this.
Win..win…
Hugs dear...

[phoenix3]

Basenjibythebay … Sorry i didn't see this post I just moved to Elpaso 2 weeks ago I would have loved to help u Not sure how well my dogs would have took to it being a new place and then having another dog around . I'm sure my whippet would have been thinking grr this woman brings us to a whole new place and now gets another one of those won't leave me alone always wants to snuggle with me dogs ?? lol lol I would have tried to help somehow if i new But i am happy for u that u got to spring him... bet u cant wait till next week

[Eli_and_Me]

Awwww, what a great story of people coming together to help Donko.

[LiveWWSD]

YAY….oh that is a great outcome for the little man.

[BasenjiByTheBay]

@phoenix3:

Basenjibythebay … Sorry i didn't see this post I just moved to Elpaso 2 weeks ago I would have loved to help u Not sure how well my dogs would have took to it being a new place and then having another dog around . I'm sure my whippet would have been thinking grr this woman brings us to a whole new place and now gets another one of those won't leave me alone always wants to snuggle with me dogs ?? lol lol I would have tried to help somehow if i new But i am happy for u that u got to spring him... bet u cant wait till next week

LOL poor whippet LOL That may have been tough in a new home, but thanks! I was getting pretty frantic right before things came together, but the miracle of rescue hearts saved the day. Just makes me sad for all the pups that don't get saved. I guess it's getting worse and worse out there.

Can't wait to get there and pick him up. I'm trying to decide whether I should take Fiji with me, or if it would be better to pick him up and have some one on one time with him on the way back. Any rescue-savvy folks, or folks with 2 b's, have opinions?

[agilebasenji]

For the last 2 dogs (one at a time) I've gotten, I put the dogs I have in their crates and the new dog in her crate. By the time I got home, everyone was used to how everyone smelled. If you don't have crates, I'd probably suggest something different.

[sharronhurlbut]

I think your suggestion agilebasenji is perfect!

[BasenjiByTheBay]

Thanks for the input, Agile. Fiji will use a crate, but I have heard that Donko is not happy being crated when his foster mom leaves home. Hoping he might do better being crated in the car where I can talk to him. Still thinking through 2 b's on that long a drive. I had also thought about taking a blanket of Fiji's with me, though that wouldn't let her get to know his smell in advance.

His foster mom also shared this, as we get to know him better:"The shelter knows his name was Donko because they found his original owners through his microchip. Apparently they no longer wanted him and decided to drop him off in the middle of the desert."

:mad: Who drops their dog off in the middle of the desert?!?!?