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Happy Ending Story: Sarah
 My search for another basenji, and my discovery of BRAT
and Sarah, began after my first basenji, Colborne, died at the ripe old
age of 17. Thunder, Colborne's nephew, now alone and distraught, began
rearranging furniture, chewing through doorways and howling and screaming
for hours when I went out. He clearly needed a basenji buddy.
At first I passed over Sarah because she
sounded like too much trouble! Her description read: 8 years old; doesn't
like teens; growls at anyone approaching; seems to be losing her vision;
overweight due to a thyroid condition.
But there was something that appealed to be about Sarah
and I couldn't quite forget about her. I kept going back to look at the
picture of this stout black and white female and began to focus on her
positive attributes: Gets on well with older people (I'm 42 and remember
when I was 20 and thought 42 was ancient!); yodels incessantly; loves her
food; cuddles once she knows you.
I applied for Sarah and won! That's how I felt, like she
was this giant, rewarding prize.
Sarah was living in Texas and was gently and patiently
fostered by Marilyn Sterling. Sarah's trip to our home in Brampton,
Ontario was quite amazing! She got a "direct flight" from Texas
to Brampton aboard Lyle Sterling's oil truck. No one can tell me this
wasn't meant to be.
Amazing is not how I would describe Thunder's reaction
to Sarah's arrival. Not in the positive sense, anyway. It wasn't easy
between the two of them in the beginning. With patience, diligence and a
lot of help from Marilyn, BRAT staff, my basenji mentor, and Basenji
Companions, we worked through the discord. It took about two months for
Thunder to appreciate Sarah's presence and company. This is truly a happy
ending!
Thunder is back to his old self and Sarah reminds me of
a little circus bear. She dances! She yodels! And she is a very easy going
and joyful b-girl! So what if she has taught Thunder how delicious paper
products are? She is precious and sweet, and we now have lot more to love
about our household.
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