Wild pack of basenjis in rural Florida
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Hi, this is my first post, although I've been lurking around reading for a while. My husband and I became interested in Basenjis when we adopted a half Basenji/half Sheltie last year. Fido is a wonderful dog and looks just like a red and white B. with short hair,tail curl, up ears, wrinkled forehead and all. Just a narrow Sheltie face. I have worked with animal rescue groups for years and thought I would apply to be a Basenji foster. We went through the application process and home visit, never expecting that there might be a puppy available. This was before we got word of the Wimauma dogs.
Long story short, I got the call from Debbi Johnson two nights ago and my dog loving husband Mark and I drove up to Seminole from Sarasota to Pam Hamilton's yesterday. We spent a wonderful afternoon visiting all the wonderful Bs. Pam is a miracle worker. A much younger, prettier version of a Basenji Mother Teresa! We spent some time with the older shyer dogs first, helping them get used to strangers, offering treats and talking to them. They are very wary but you can see how well they respond to Pam. Then we got to see the first batch of older puppies. Well, there are no words to describe how beautiful, healthy and full of vitality they are.
Pam then brought out the younger ones. Oh those babies tug at your heart strings. Each one more adorable than the other. They are also shiny and bouncing bundles of joy.
When it came time to chose a forever pup I was torn. An older boy was a favorite, but we had wanted a girl. I would have had to wait another 3 or 4 weeks for an available girl. Finally, (after changing my mind several times) we chose Jabu, a stunning tri male with a charming "laid back dude" sort of personality.
He slept in my lap on the way home while my husband Mark drove. Fido loved him right away and showed him around the yard and house. Roxie, our 15 year old chi/doxie is more grumpy, but accepting. The cats are curious and Jabu seems to think that they are "alien dogs".
Last night we took Jabu out for his first walk on a leash, with Fido. Jabu just didn't know what to do and sat down in the street until Seymour the cat came up and just led him along. We were in hysterics.
He slept like an angel in his crate and pottied outside like a champ. We are in love with him already and he fits right into our family.
Pam Hamilton is a remarkable woman and I can't say enough about how much she is doing for these dogs.
Sorry this is so long, I know I am gushing.
I've put pictures in an album on the site if you can get to them.Looking forward to being part of the "Basenji family"
Annette
Sarasota, FL -
I agree with JohnnyB..what a wonderful story..lucky you.. I hope to see lots of pictures..soon.
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Oh, please gush all you want…I can't wait to see the photos.
This little boy b is very lucky to have landed in your home.
Hugs -
Thanks for sharing the story, now please share some photos!
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Hi everyone,
I have posted some pictures in my album. If you click on my name (abreaze) a drop down menu should appear. Click on "View public profile" and it should take you to my page where you can access my album. If you hover your curser over each picture you should see a caption.
Let me know if this works.Having fun this beautiful day with my little pack.
A.
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Great photos. I hope all of these b's get loving homes.
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Check out the new thread re Fl BRAT puppies needing homes.
Maybe there is one for you??? -
Here is the mahogany colored female, Kizzie, with green-gold eyes…stunning!
Well, thanks to this thread (dont know how I missed the story in the news), we visited Pam and the rescued Basenji's today. We brought our 10 year old basenji with us, and we all had a blast. We decided to adopt Kizzie and give her the loving home she deserves. We recently lost a beagle of 10 years and our basenji has been so lost without "her beagle". My wife and I love animals, have been married 21 years, and have no kids, so our animals have always been our kids. They are spoiled just as much as any of our friends or relatives kids, and we enjoy doing it. We are ready for the unique challenge that awaits us. Our goal is to get Kizzy comfortable enough that she want to go out in the boat with us, as we live on the Gulf, and our basenji loves to go boating.
Pam still had at least 1 puppy, a few kids and lots of adults available. My wife would have taken a few more home if I would have agreed.:) -
Awesome! I love Kizzie, I worked with her and 4 others while they were still at the shelter. She is gorgeous and was a sweetheart. I haven't sen her in along time and am so glad she found her forever home.
We have a group that gets together in Tampa every Sunday, would love to have you join us once you get her settled. One of the boys in that shelter kid-group was adopted by a Clearwater couple and has come to the park to meet the "big basenji gang" and he did great.
At any rate, big congratulations and maybe we can meet up someday!
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Great news Triciaw, welcome to the forum.
Pics would be great:D
