TidBit's Story:

TidBit with his first splints.

I was emailed by the Rescue Coordinator at Town Lake Animal Center in Austin, TX, to evaluate a possible Basenji puppy. He had been brought to the shelter by an emergency clinic (EC). Someone had taken TidBit there saying they found him injured, but they did not own him. Since no owner was present at the EC, they took him directly to the shelter without treating or knowing what his injuries were. The shelter held him, waiting for his owners to reclaim him for the mandatory 3-days. No one came, and he was obviously injured, but the shelter did not know the extent of his injuries.  


I evaluated him, and it was pretty clear TidBit was not a purebred Basenji. He was pugnacious and tenacious like a Basenji puppy, but had attributes of another breed - perhaps a long-haired chihuahua? I contacted Basenji Rescue and emailed several friends that have been in Basenjis for decades to ask their opinions, and almost unanimously, the Basenji-Chihuahua mix was voiced. A teacup Basenji? A Chisenji or a Bahuahua (I like this one and pronounce it, Ba-wow-wow!)  Regardless, he's a cute little monster and was all about 9 weeks old.

Tidbit needed a rescue to come forward because of his injuries. The shelter can not adopt out injured animals and there was no way that anyone in the public would see him back in the vet suites to even consider him. The shelter offered $200 to help with some bills if I would take him out. Basenji Rescue offered to help with providing space on their website for an ad, but could not help monetarily with any vet bills for dogs that were not purebred Basenjis. I hate leaving a dog at a shelter once I've met it, so back I went and picked up TidBit, hoping the injury wasn't too bad.

That's how I got him. I don't know what caused his initial injuries, but we're trying to get him on the right paths to recovery.

He went to a local clinic and received splints on his legs for "nondisplaced fractures."  The splints would hopefully keep the breaks in alignment while they healed.  After 2 weeks, the splints came off and the legs evaluated.  His left leg is healing well and staying aligned, but his right leg has drifted and is no longer aligned. Healing in that leg has also been delayed.

Surgery is recommended to realign TidBit's right leg and plate it to help speed correct healing.  The option to keep it splinted until it heals exists, but his leg will not heal correctly and take longer. After seeing the xrays, surgery is just the best option for helping out this pup.  TidBit is now about 12 weeks old and his recovery should be fast.  The clinic is estimating $600-800 for the surgery.  I am opting to go ahead with the surgery and paying the bill will happen one way or another.  I have set up a "ChipIn" if you would like to help contribute to his surgery bill.  My goal is $600.  Thanks!!!