Arrival Date: 05 February 2022
Adoption Date: 20 March 2022
Elton is a beautiful, golden-colored basenji mix with a playful and energetic personality. When I picked him up in February of 2022, he was a delightful boy and a favorite of the technicians working at the Veterinary hospital.
There wasn’t much information regarding Elton’s history other than he was found roaming the Redlands of Florida until some Good Samaritans brought him to safety and the rescue took him in. I had seen that description, “was dumped and left to fend for himself in the Redlands”, on some of the previous foster dogs posted within the rescue but I was unfamiliar with the severity of domestic animals being discarded within the Redlands.
The Redlands, an area near the Everglades, has become a notorious spot for unwanted pets and animals left abandoned by their former owners. Animals big and small, young and old, are dumped and forced to figure out how to survive in a swampy marshland. Through no fault of their own, the animals are left alone to die of starvation, exposure to the heat, or possibly be eaten by an alligator, assuming the poor animal doesn’t get hit by a car after they’re forsaken on the side of the road.
Many of the animals once lived in a home, but for reasons only the former owner could justify, are left without food and no knowledge, other than their animal instinct, on how to survive in their new situation. It’s hard to imagine someone dumping a small dog that loves and trusts you in the swamp land of Florida, but it’s an unfortunate occurrence that happens far too often. Thankfully there are kind and generous people aware of the situation who spend their free time trekking through the dangerous conditions in search of discarded pets and uniting them with rescues across Florida to give them a new home and new hope for a cheerful future.
For Elton, his time in the Redlands had no effect on his spirit as he was friendly with every person and every dog that he encountered. He never showed any fear or aggression and loved cuddling with us and with both my little chihuahua pups and our larger permanent resident American Bully dog.
I wasn’t familiar with the basenji breed prior to Elton’s fostering, but his happy persona and lack of barking (basenjis are known for making more of a yodel-like sound) and the rarity of finding a basenji for adoption made him a very popular pup. Although Elton was not pure bred and instead a mix, he received more than seven applications within the first two days of being listed (which is the most I’ve encountered) and I quickly sifted through them all to find the perfect home for him. He now lives with his two dog moms and pup brother in a safe home surrounded by love.
Many dogs listed for adoption in rescues and shelters often come from bad situations or a past that isn’t fair for a guiltless animal, but for the majority of those left abandoned by their previous owners, you’d never know they haven’t been loved every day of their life because they remain happy, retain their innocence, and learn to trust quickly. That was the case with Elton.
My greatest respect and appreciation for the wonderful people who found Elton, the rescue who took him in, and all adopters who choose a rescue animal. Every pup matters.
Elton is a good boy and I’m so glad he got another chance at happniess and peaceful life.
Epidemic of dogs dumped in Everglades hits home for Treasure Coast woman (msn.com)