We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. We rescue Basenji and Shiba Inu dogs
Our Mission:
1. Rescue: We acquire Basenji and Shiba Inu from several different means. We might be contacted from an owner no longer able to care for their dog for one reason or another. We might get a phone call or an email message about a Basenji found stay or just needing be rescued from another shelter rescued. These dogs can come from very diverse backgrounds. Some are from loving homes that just can’t care any longer. Others are found stay and you can only guess about their former lives. Some of the Basenji are well adjusted and other will have emotional scaring. Some can even have visible scaring from the hands of those entrusted to its well-being.
2. Evaluation: Evaluation my take from 1 to 2 weeks. The dogs’ basic behaviors are recorded on an intake form upon the Basenji entering into our rescue. Usually filled out by previous owner or by another shelter. Then we will do our own evaluation on the behaviors such as interactions with human’ (adults and children). The interaction between this dog and the pack in our home. We look to see if the dog has any aggression toward humans, other dogs, or during meal times. All of these findings are important to the dog’s future placement. Other factors come into play during evaluation. Answering questions such as is the dog crate trained, house trained, and good with other animals such as cats, birds, etc. Also is the dog destructive when left alone. Each dog is evaluated separately and fairly.
3. Rescue Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation time for each dog varies. This depends on the dogs previous
experiences with humans and other dogs. Some Basenji or Shiba Inu can be ready within a couple of weeks from arriving into the rescue to find their forever home. Sadly to say at the far end of the spectrum is the dogs
that might never be ready to find a new forever home. We try our best to work through any issues that each dog brings with him or her. Some examples can be as simple as occasional urination or deification in the house to the extreme end such as fear biting towards humans and other dogs. Each dog must have trust in their human owners rather it be in a home or here at the rescue. They must be treated with love and respect. As far as getting along with other dogs some Basenji and Shiba Inu even though they are known to be pack oriented would be better being placed in a home where they are the only pet.
4. Placement Determination: After carefully going through all information gathered on the Basenji it would be determined rather the dog is eligible to be placed in a new forever home. It would also be determined what type of home would best suit this dog. Such as a home with only adults, younger children would be fine, a home with other dogs or maybe the only pet. Every dog is different. Some dogs, which have bitten out of fear, may never be ready for placement into a new family. We try our best
to determine what is best for each dog. Some dogs come into our rescue with us knowing they won’t ever be placed into another home. These dogs include the elderly, ill, and dogs that have demonstrated
behaviors we feel would make them unsafe to be re-homed.
5. Re-Home: Anyone that contacts our rescue who is interested in adopting a Basenji or Shiba Inu is asked to fill out an on line or paper form application. This application gives us some brief information about the prospective owners. After reviewing the application a phone interview will take place. We find out what
is known about the breed, what sex and age of a Basenji or Shibathey are looking for. We might suggest one or more dogs at this time that we have in our rescue. At this time we usually set up a time where the prospective owners can come visit the rescue to meet the Basenji or Shiba. This is a very important meeting for us. We can then see the interaction between the dog and the prospective owners. Just because someone wants a certain dog doesn’t mean it is a good match. Both the prospective owner and the dog must see the adoption as a good placement. We observe the body language of the human and dog during this visitation period. We want this to be a forever situation in a new placement. We discuss any issues that
the dog may have at this time. We also like the entire family or anyone that will be living in the home with the dog to be at this meeting.
6. Placement: Once a match has been found there must be a home visit done to make sure the new owner and/or the family understands the breed. Basenjis are notorious for being door darters. Precautions must be taken to insure the dog doesn’t escape when someone comes in or out of the house. Basenji can also be very destructive when they become bored or left alone. If the Basenji is destructive do you have a safe place to keep the dog when you are gone? The home visit will also give the prospective owners an idea of what not to leave in reach of the Basenji. They love paper products, remotes, glasses, etc. Basenjis are eternal two year olds. They are just like having a small child in the home and things must be prepared for their arrival. Doing these things will insure the safety of the Basenji or Shiba and the happiness
of the new owner.
7. Going Home: This can be both exciting and stressful for both the dog and owner. Even though everything has been done to make the transition as smooth as possible problems can occur. The dog may have a few urination or deification accidents in the new home. This is normal. We will send a bag of the dog food we are feeding here to be mixed into his or her new food if you are changing brands. We will go over all medical records and again any issues we have encountered. All of the dogs we place are fully vetted (all have current shots, wormed, rabies vaccine, and are spayed and or neutered). We go over the adoption contract and the legal requirements there of. We also recommend special made collars for the Basenji breed because of their ability to be true escape artists. Last thing before leaving we like to take a picture of the Basenji with the new family.
8. Follow Up: The new owners will be expected to keep us informed of the Basenji or Shiba progress in the new home. It is best to call here at the rescue maybe every other day for the first week. Then the second week
maybe once or twice during that week. By this time the new owners should know if this is a good match for both the new dog and them. We request follow up information on the dog every six months there after. We require a current phone number, address, and email address if available which was provided the day the owner signed the adoption contract. If any of this information changes we expect to be notified immediately. We also want to be notified if there are any health problems or behavior problems
with the dog no matter how long you have had the Basenji or Shiba Americas Basenji Rescue retains all legal rights to the Basenji. This is written in the adoption contract in case any legal action must be taken to ensure the well being of the dog.
In Conclusion: We hope that all of this information is helpful with the placement and living with your new Basenji orf Shiba We will also provide information on health care, feeding, and dealing with Basenji or Shiba behaviors. We want this to be a forever-loving experience of both the dog and the new owner. We wish all of you many years of love and friendship.
We do dog rescue because the dogs are in need of help. If we can take them from an environment where they are unwanted, unsafe, or just need a new home. This is our way of helping the community.
