Amani is a sweet eight-year-old female Basenji currently located in Indiana. She is strikingly beautiful with her shiny black coat. She enjoys wearing sweaters in the winter and seems to find comfort in them. Amani is not destructive, rides well in a car, is kennel trained and loves the companionship of the resident male Basenji. When riding in a vehicle, Amani is well-behaved, either riding in a crate or loose or buckled into a seatbelt. However, when it comes to food, even a well-behaved Basenji’s curiosity gets the best of them. Amani went on vacation with her foster and made a three-hour drive to their destination. Initially free in the vehicle, the smell of food wafting from behind the backseat smelled so good to Amani that she needed to see what was back there. Standing on her hind legs and looking over the seat to see what this delicious smell was. Her foster knew it would not be long before Amani’s curiosity would get the best of her. After stopping, her foster connected Amani to her seatbelt in her doggy car seat, and she was a perfect Basenji for the remaining drive. She is an extremely sweet girl but also shy and looking for a home that will continue to build her confidence and help her blossom into her full personality.
Amani is one of the eight Basenjis that were transferred from the National Mill Dog Rescue in Missouri to BRAT after being surrendered by their breeder. Though we do not know much about Amani's background, we suspect that she lived in the breeder's kennels in her previous life and never lived in a house. She was never socialized with people before she came into BRAT, so she started out extremely skittish and terrified of humans.
When Amani first arrived in her foster home, she would pace uncontrollably in a four-to-six-foot pattern as if she was still enclosed in a kennel. When going outside to the backyard, her foster was forced to keep her on a long lead, otherwise Amani would run from her foster and not come back into the house. Amani had a fear of doorways, and it would take a long time for her foster to convince her to cross the threshold back into the house. About three months ago, something clicked in Amani’s mind, and she began to trust and accept humans. Now Amani has learned how to relax when her humans are home, and the constant pacing has stopped. Now her foster opens the backdoor and Amani runs out by herself and enjoys running freely around the yard. When she is done with her business, she comes to the door and waits for her foster to open the door to run back inside.
For the first few months, Amani would avoid all contact with humans and scamper away when her foster approached. Now Amani enjoys her human scratching her booty and back. In fact, she backs up to her foster to let her know, time for you to start petting me. Her foster takes the cue and scratches her rump, back, neck and is now working on her head and ears. Amani’s tail curls up tightly, enjoying her pets. She has also started to sit beside her foster at times to get her belly rubbed and has on occasion jumped onto the couch to lay beside her. After never knowing a soft bed or soft blankets, Amani now takes afternoon naps on the bed beside the resident Basenji often laying up against him. She enjoys a pile of blankets, nesting and kneading the blankets, getting them just right, before she snuggles into them. Like a typical Basenji, Amani is nosey and follows her foster around the house to see what she is doing. Do not expect any privacy in the bathroom, as she comes in for scratches while her human is sitting on the toilet. If you have something in your hand, you will have to show her what it is, because she needs to know. Her curiosity continues to grow as she becomes more comfortable.
Amani enjoys walks and waits to be leashed up as long as her foster approaches slowly. She has made great progress but still is skittish at times on walks with the sights and sounds. Still leery of a harness going over her head, she walks with a Martingale collar. Amani will beg for food, but she is a polite beggar. No pawing to get your attention or jumping up to steal your food. Instead, she will quietly sit in front of you, watching and waiting until her foster says her name and presents her with a taste. Then she politely accepts her treat.
While her foster holds her, Amani has no problems with the groomer trimming her nails. Amani has never shown any aggression towards humans or other dogs. She has never nipped or even snarked at a human. She is passive and submissive with both. She is nervous during her vet visits, but the staff picks her up and handles her all over. She has no issue with these strangers fully examining her – checking her teeth and ears and drawing blood. She has never reacted.
Amani does get nervous when humans stand and tower over her. When visitors come to her foster’s house, they are instructed to come in, sit down, ignore Amani, and then they receive a handful of treats. Once the guests are seated and ignoring Amani, she will approach them and take treats from their hands. Amani needs a home that will continue to build her confidence with positive experiences.
Loud noises still startle Amani. When she first arrived, she was terrified of the TV. What was this big box with loud noises? She had never seen a TV before. Now she is comfortable with the TV although on occasion with the volume turned up loud, a car crash or explosion will startle her. Continued exposure to scary things has helped to desensitize her and make her comfortable.
After spending most of her life being kenneled and never living in a house, she was not potty trained, had chronic diarrhea, and her coat was in bad shape. After being diagnosed with thickening of the intestines, her foster used a combination of medications and quality food and supplements to resolve her digestive issues. Amani is an eager eater, so sometimes she enjoys kibble in a snuffle mat. She is treat-motivated, so she eats her medications in a dollop of peanut butter. Her food is topped with canned pumpkin mixed with some Metamucil for a healthy gut. With the improved diet, Amani now has a beautiful, shiny black coat.
Using a consistent schedule of taking Amani out every one to two hours and giving her a treat when she comes back in the house, Amani is now almost 100% potty-trained. When her foster is home, Amani has the full run of the house and has not had an accident in over two months. When she needs to go out to use the bathroom, she will find her foster in the house to let her know. When she comes back inside, she sits and waits, excited to get her good girl treat. Amani does exhibit some separation anxiety when her foster leaves the house. She is not destructive at all and has never torn anything up, but her pacing in a four-to-six-foot circle returns. Sometimes she will have a stress pee or poop on the pee pads while she is gated off in the kitchen. When her foster comes home, Amani is so happy and excited! She wags her tail, puts her front paws up in the air and jumps up and down. She is so happy her human is home!
Amani’s perfect home would include a canine companion to welcome her and show her the ropes. Amani enjoys her walks, she will pull, but she is curious and enjoys sniffing, so a doggy companion to walk with would help her to gain confidence. Amani is still learning how to be a dog in a human world, and she watches and learns from the resident male Basenji. She enjoys his company and seeks him out to lay close to him and be around him. Some nights the two of them will sleep in a chair together. Amani now finds comfort in the company of humans as well, so a home where someone is around most of the time would help her to feel secure. She loves being outdoors, running around and sunning herself in a warm spot, so a backyard with a fence would be a bonus. Amani needs a home where her humans will be patient and help her gain confidence in this new world. Her new life has just begun.
If you think you could provide Amani with love, activity, and evening cuddle time, please read the data sheet below carefully, complete the BRAT adoption form (if you have not previously done so) and contact the BRAT coordinator, Brooke Stephens.
The coordinator's link will take you to a form that will ask you your name, email address, the city and state you live in, why this dog is perfect for your family, a typical day in your household, and, if applicable, how you plan to transport Amani.
A BRAT supporter has paid Amani's adoption fee so she is available at no charge. This fee is used for the extensive costs associated with vetting and otherwise caring for Amani and future Basenjis in rescue. BRAT adopters receive a dog that has been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and internal worms if necessary, DNA tested for Fanconi syndrome (dogs under 10), and heartworm tested. Our dogs get recommended dental work. When indicated, we test our dogs for thyroid deficiencies. They are also temperament evaluated. In addition, BRAT provides free lifetime post-adoption counseling to help deal with behavioral or health issues. Finally, we provide a free lifetime identification tag connected to our "lost dog" toll free number.
ABOUT THE BASENJI
Dog's name: Amani
Dog is currently in: Indiana
Birth date: 01/01/2017
Gender: Female
Color: Black and White
Weight: 22 pounds
Neutered/Spayed: Spayed
Tattooed: Yes, a blue/green dot near her spay incision.
Micro-chipped: Yes
VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL TESTS
General health information: Amani had a follow-up appointment with an internal medicine veterinary specialist on 02/07/2025 for her diagnosis of thickening of the intestines. Her bloodwork was great, and the vet said that she looked great. Comments from the veterinarian, “She was so sweet during her time here, and we really enjoyed working with her!”. The recommendation was to continue with tylosin (antibiotic) twice a day, Metamucil (fiber capsule) twice a day, and continue feeding her the Royal Canine HP Formula kibble. They would like a phone call in one month to let them know how she is doing.
DHLP: DA2PP + L4 on 04/23/2024
Rabies: 04/23/2024
Rabies certificate: Yes
Coronavirus: No
Bordetella: 04/23/2024
Lyme Disease: No
Fecal: 04/23/2024
Fecal test comments: No parasites
Heartworm: Negative test
Regular heartworm given: Simparica Trio
DNA test for Fanconi: Clear/Normal
Other tests: Bloodwork from 2/7/2025 appointment was great.
Other regular medication: Tylosin (antibiotic) twice a day and fluoxetine (Prozac) once a day.
Other medical issues: Because of her skittish nature and constant pacing when she arrived in her foster home, Amani was given fluoxetine (Prozac) to calm her nerves. She continues to take it once a day. Last year Amani had a dental cleaning and multiple teeth were removed, but she is a good eater and the missing teeth do not affect her eating or appetite.
EATING HABITS
Eating schedule: ¾ cup twice a day with a tablespoon of pumpkin mixed with Metamucil (1 capsule broken open and the powder mixed into the pumpkin).
Type of food: Kibble
Brand(s) of food: Royal Canin HP Formula
Begs for food: Yes, but she politely sits and watches her human and waits in hopes that she gets a treat.
Food dislikes: Bananas
Favorite foods: She enjoys chewing Yak chews, bully sticks, Benebones, and freeze-dried treats like minnows or pumpkin.
TEMPERAMENT
Temperament description: Amani is extremely sweet and shy.
Lived with children: No
Likes children: Yes, if they are respectful and know how to treat a Basenji. The first human to pet Amani was a four-year-old neighbor girl who also walks with them.
Lived with cats: No
Likes cats: Indifferent to them in the vet office.
Lived with dogs: Yes
Likes dogs: Amani does great with other dogs and would do best with a companion. She is passive and submissive, so she would not do well with a dog who is a bully.
Prefers men or women: Either
Likes strangers: Yes, when they are sitting and ignore her and let Amani approach at her pace.
Nips (playfully): No
Bites (in anger): No
Crate trained: Yes, but she currently is left alone in the kitchen with an open kennel when her foster leaves the house.
House broken: She is mostly 100% housebroken when a human is home with her. When she is left alone, she will use potty pads in the kitchen where she stays.
Destructive outdoors: No
Dog is a climber: No
Easily startled: Yes
Rides well in car: Yes
Gets carsick: No
Rides in crate: Yes, and she rides well buckled in a doggy car seat.
Yodels: No
Screams: No
Dog sleeps where: In her crate in the kitchen or on the couch or chair in the living room
Other information: Amani is a sweet and passive girl who has not learned to cuddle with humans but is learning to live with them. She enjoys the companionship of the resident Basenji and learns from him and follows his lead. She is passive and submissive to other dogs, so she needs a companion who will respect her.
If you are interested in Amani, please use our coordinator contact form, to email our BRAT coordinator, Brooke Stephens. Thank you!
A BRAT supporter has paid Amani's adoption fee so she is available at no charge. This fee is used for the extensive costs associated with vetting and otherwise caring for Amani and future Basenjis in rescue. BRAT adopters receive a dog that has been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and internal worms if necessary, DNA tested for Fanconi syndrome (dogs under 10), and heartworm tested. Our dogs get recommended dental work. When indicated, we test our dogs for thyroid deficiencies. They are also temperament evaluated. In addition, BRAT provides free lifetime post-adoption counseling to help deal with behavioral or health issues. Finally, we provide a free lifetime identification tag connected to our "lost dog" toll free number.