Hello great CASPCA fans! This is the first in a series of introductions of some our our special dogs and cats. We thought it would be a way for you to get to know them a little better and give our great shelter a personal face. So many animals come through here, but a few stick with staff and volunteers. Padre, who describes himself below with the aid of transciptionist Faye Brown, a long-time dog walker, is one of the great ones. Hope you enjoy his story and maybe pay him a visit!
Could You Be One of Padre’s ‘Peeps’?
Just to get off on the right paw, let me tell you a little about myself. I’m one good-looking Basenji / pitbull mix looking for a permanent home with the right ‘people’! I’m a male dog, around two years old and in the prime of my life! Like “The Fonz,” while I initially come off as being a little aloof, I’m just one “cool” dog! When we first meet I may act like I’m ignoring you, but I’m really just checking out how “cool” you are and whether you could be one of my ‘peeps.’ After I get to know you a little and assuming no one is looking - as I have a reputation to keep - I’ll sneak in a lick or two.
Typical of my primary breed, as a Basenji (African Bush Dog, “barkless”) I’m relatively silent the majority of the time. I occasionally can make this low “yodel” kind of sound, but that is only when I’m trying to beg, get your attention, or just be cute. Er, I mean be charming and cool! Us Basenji’s are alert, energetic, curious about their surroundings, and reserved with strangers.
I get really excited in the kennel at the shelter when I see some nice CASPCA staff member, dog walking volunteer, or potential adopter ‘peep’ coming into my kennel. I can hardly wait to go outside, but I calm down right away when I see all the grass, trees, trails that I get to leave my mark on – after all I’m house-broken and have to let all the other dogs know I’ve been around. I love being out and about, walking the neighborhood, hiking on wilderness trails, or taking a daily walk or run to keep my sleek masculine shape – it also helps me look good in front of the girl dogs – if you know what I mean “aaah.”
As a Basenji, I admit my ability to come off as aloof if you were to visit me at the CASPCA, but I can also form strong bonds with people and become very affectionate once I know you. Just ask some of the staff (like Laura, the volunteer coordinator) or volunteers (like Faye who walks, tussles with, and spoils me) that call me their “favorite” – though they said it quietly so as not to upset my fellow kennel residents! Look closely at my picture on the SPCA website, and you’ll see that blur is my tail wagging at them!
Though I’m not much for dog toys, I do like to tussle if you’re an older teenager or adult. I sometimes tease a human into play by tugging or nibbling at them. If I get too excited or too mouthy, just stop playing with me for a few minutes until I calm down and walk with me or make me sit for treats! I’m a patient, very smart dog and well-behaved if you are clear, consistent, and loving in expressing what you want of me! I can be very clever at getting my own way if you let me, but a considerate handler or ‘peep’ will find me no real challenge – positive reinforcement and consistency works every time!
I do sometimes stand on my back legs, either unsupported or leaning against something else for assistance, to look over short walls or if sometime just over the shrubbery catches my attention or curiosity. Birds flying in the sky are just one curiosity to me – how do they get up there?! Oh yeah I forgot, hehehe, sometimes it’s because I chased one of those big, arrogant crow-looking ones just to see them fly! Hahaha! Oh boy and did I tell you, squirrels are the greatest to chase and I’d catch them all if only I could climb trees! I love to rub my back under low trees or shrubbery, if some human doesn’t have time to brush or scratch my back for me – I find it tough to reach my back when I have an itch – do you have that problem too?
If you’re one of those people who have a cat, I pretty much mind my own business, and let cats do what cats do. I do tend to like to keep and have myself well-groomed, similar to those felines. I like almost all female dogs and get along well with most male dogs, but your dog or cat and I can always be introduced here at the shelter first – just to make sure things will go great at your home. Also similar to cats and nearly all Basenji, I am not fond of wet weather, although I’ll go out to “relieve” myself or for short walks if it’s sprinkling – but I hate getting caught in a downpour! It’s hard to look “cool” soaked to the skin, but towel-dry me off and I won’t even have that strong wet-dog smell! I know how to climb – good for hiking or getting over the fence – only if you were to leave me alone all day long. I‘d prefer being with my ‘peeps’ and going everywhere with them!
Oh, and since there is some pit bull in my family tree, I’m best out in public on a leash, just in case. My pit bull ancestor can make me pretty determined and strong…and loving, too.
Anyway enough about me, if you think I might be the dog for you please swing by the CASPCA and visit me! I hope to see lots of new ‘peeps’ swing through the kennels and maybe that one ‘peep’ will adopt me into their forever home soon!
Sincerely, Padre!
P.S. Bring treats if you can spare them!
FIV is a lentivirus (or "slow virus") that eventually breaks down a cat’s immune system. It CANNOT be spread to humans or to any animal other than cats, and it is not easily spread between cats either. It’s typically transmitted when "tomcats" carrying the virus attack and bite other cats who can’t get away or don’t want to fight back. So it ends up that that these FIV infected cats tend to be the sweetest cats of all because they’re the lovers, not the fighters.
