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Country of
Origin: BENIN, West Africa
Province: northern Atlantique
Village: Lissegazoun
Month of Birth:
March 2004
CERF:BJ
1143/2004-5 OFA: BJ 1751G25F-PI
HA: DNA-Tested Clear
Thyroid Profile: Tested NORMAL, all values
Coat color DNA profile by Health Gene of Toronto:
EE BB Dd (dilute = haplotype 2)
Honey is microchipped.
DNA samples have been sent to AKC & to the Dog
Migratory Research Project in Sweden.
Recently, DNA has also been
contributed to the Barsh Labs study at Stanford University for
research into the genetics of coat color in dogs.
Honey is one
of the Avuvi puppies who landed in the U.S. on
27th July 2004, and we decided to have her as part of Calypso family!
In the map of Benin, below, the village of Lissegazoun is about 5 miles
outside Allada. It is remote, and accessible by a modest lane.
Dogs in the villages do not "roam". They hunt with the
villagers and then return home to village life. It is dangerous for
dogs or humans to be outside the villages. There is wildlife, including
poisonous snakes, in the tall grasses that immediately line the
paths. No stray dogs come into villages, so the gene pool of the
dogs, like that of most of the humans, is a closed one. One can observe
the diversity as well as the recessive traits immediately apparent in
the dogs in each village.
Honey comes
straight from Benin of West Africa ...
Pictured below are two very important people in Honey's life: on the
far left is Nestor Djossou of Allada. Members of his family are also in
the picture. The 'yovo' ('whitey') is former Peace Corps Volunteer to
Allada, Chris Starace of New York. Chris had his own basenji dog,
"Wafi" (means 'come here' in Fongbe language), and after he left
Allada, other PCV's inherited Wafi until finally he became a member of
a local Beninese family. Shortly before Chris' return in 2004, Wafi
disappeared, never seen again. Much upset over this, as through Wafi's
ownership and care by the yovo's, the villagers had come to see how
attached persons can become to the animals they had never seen as
anything more than 'dogs'. Even Nestor had some tears in his eyes over
Wafi's disappearance when Chris returned to Allada, and Chris kidded
him about becoming 'yovo'. When Chris served in the Peace Corps
in Allada, Nestor was but a very young boy. They have kept in contact
all these years. Nestor is now in our equivalent of high school.
Nestor and Chris used to communicate via posted letter, but then the
internet came to Allada, and now they can email to each other. When
Robert
Dean decided to import some Beninese basenjis, Chris communicated his
wishes to Nestor, and the young native man took it upon himself to make
numerous trips in to the countryside to find isolated pockets of the
dogs where the local population would note that stray dogs do not come
in their
villages. He reported his findings back to Chris, who shared this with
Robert, and from this information the decisions were made about which
villages Chris and Nestor would visit from which to choose puppies who
would be shipped to America. Those puppies were transported in a wicker
basket by bicycle,and now you see in the picture below, all the pups
gathered where Nestor and his family live.
The puppies
traveled from Cotonou, Benin to Paris. They
were oh-so-lucky! to have as their import/Animal Control Officer
at Charles De Gaulle International Airport the foremost basenji breeder
in France and now licensed show judge, Christian Juoanchicot of 'Out of
Africa' basenjis. Christian personally saw to the arrival and care of
the Benin babies during their layover at De Gaulle, and picked out
'purple collar' himself as his choice puppy. I have to confess
that when Robert emailed me that Christian had chosen 'purple
collar'... my ideas about the puppies began to change.. at that point,
I had had no intention of getting one of this group, I was going to
wait until the next trip. But, I thought, hmmmm: CHRISTIAN likes one of
these.... I didn't know it, but from that moment on, a new destiny was
being shaped..
The puppies arrived at Dulles Airport outside Washington,DC to much
fanfare. The freight company personnel were so taken with the idea of
the
little travelers that it seems a speed recored was set unloading them
from their jet transport and getting them back to the cargo facility to
the impatiently waiting Robert Dean! Then it was off to their new home
& quarantine in Manassas, Virginia. Besides Robert and Tricia,
there was a household of part-African basenjis, but the
babies were kept isololated for weeks while they received
innoculations, worming treatments and were generally observed re: their
overall health. They seemed to get over the shock of travel and
new surroundings after only about 2 days. Well - they are basenjis! Of
COURSE they are adaptable! (and as Kevin never tires of pointing out:
OPPORTUNISTS!!!)
The pups have impressed their veterinary professionals in their visits
for microchipping (AVID), blood draws for samples to be sent to
Dr.Johnson's fanconi research project at the University of Missouri,
and for hemolytic anemia testing as well. Their DNA has been sent to
AKC and to Peter Savolainen in Sweden where research is being done on
the migration of earliest canids. In the latter research, the DNA of
Afonhaan, Hontagnon and Ekenye was sent as representative of the group
of six according to the research project's sample parameters. The
pups have all had their CERF eye
exams and await registration numbers. I was delighted to get the email
from Robert: "Honey's eyes are perfect!" When they reach
the age of 2, they will have their hips x-rayed and films sent to OFA
for rating, and will have thyroid profiles done at age 3. Any changes
to this information, or misinformation I may inadvertantly present,
will be corrected as quickly as possible by me, please be assured!
(susan)
***for further information on the Avuvi Project, please go
to our LINKS page, and scroll down to 'Basenji Breeders' - there you
will see both the Avuvi link AND the link to Chris Starace's "Fon is
Fun" site where you can learn more about Benin itself. I heartily
recommend these sites!***
"Honey" got her name from the time I saw her Fongbe name, Afonhaan...
'haaney', I thought, and Honey she was. You will also see her referred
to as "Hunny" by her special friends, as in "Hunny-bunny". Like any
good basenji, she will end up with a gazillion nicknames! Currently,
her 'russian' nickname is Afonaantchka; her 'japanese' nickname is
Bunnihana. <I know, they are groaners!> And daddy Kevin
calls her his Bun-Bun when they are snuggling in his recliner together
(this from the man who was decidely unthrilled at my campaign to bring
home "a Benin").
Honey's
documentation has been submitted to UKC and its executives for personal
consideration for registration. She is the test case for this group.UKC
issued a permanent registration # to her on Aug. 24th, and so Honey was shown at UKC shows by her
(and our) good friend, Laura Gilchrist of Glen Burnie, Maryland. Laura
is a frequent competitor at UKC events and knows the ropes. For some
reason, she did not protest at all my request that she be Honey's
agent !?! An agent can show dogs in the non-champion
classes at UKC shows. After Honey achieves her UKC championship, only
her owners of record can show her as a champion.
The weekend following the BCOA shows in Wisconsin, Robert entered Honey
in a UKC weekend of shows,and the rest is history.
Honey's homecoming to Calypso was planned for sometime toward the end
of September.
Before that she was entered in the African Exhibition at the National
Specialty. It was especially fitting that she should debut to
African Exhibition
2004 judge Michael Work, himself a participant in one of the Zaire
trips to bring out native stock back in the 1980's. Almost 20 years
later, here comes to him another group of travelers from that Far
Land...
Calypso is primarily a 'show home', but lately we have begun racing and
coursing as well. Honey's arrival will change that focus yet again....
We recognize our responsibility, short term and long term, with regard
to her as a native representative, and to her and her progeny. It may
be many more years down the line and more imports to follow before the
AKC is petitioned to yet again open the Stud Books for basenjis to
include yet another group of native dogs. Honey and her 5 fellow 2004
imports could conceivably be getting quite old by that time! In the
meantime, however, we will do our best to showcase Honey's good
temperament, native abilities, and excellent conformation to the
world. You can follow her achievements both here and on the Avuvi
Project site.
Perhaps someday you will be able to greet Miss Afonhaan
personally! For any basenji lover, the chance to spend time with
a dog who actually comes FROM Africa is magical. You can't help but be
aware that right in front of you is The Real Thing...this is 'basenji'
in its purest sense, no matter what part of the continent from which it
hails.
Having met this very special group, I can tell you that they are
endlessly fascinating. Watching their individual and group activity as
puppies was not only a pleasure, but a privilege. They've adapted to
their Western surroundings, but Robert and Tricia Dean gave to them
a transition home in which they were allowed to carve themselves a
familiar surrounding in which to establish themselves...gardens be
damned! The pups were permitted to dig up the lawn and make themselves
a
familiar red clay play area. They dug up bugs to eat and chased
anything
that moved. They noticed EVERYTHING that impacted them, whether it be
noises, scents, or intruders. Their play games mirror prey games to the
nth degree. And when there is a perceived need for an alert to be
sounded, it was the self-appointed 'queen', Miss Afonhaan, who gave the
short, sharp vocalization, and the whole group stilled and waited....
Puppy time is so preciously short in duration. Heartfelt thanks to the
Deans for opening their home to me for 3-4 days so that I could immerse
myself in the puppies' world. I will hold the memories of this little
band as their puppy selves in the New World close in my heart. To be
able to say I knew them all WHEN...and all traits that make them such
unique little selves.... it was magic, and pure unadulterated FUN!
And now so we don't end on a totally mushy note, let it be known that
Honey ain't all that 'sweet', oh no! She is a total Supreme Alpha and
self-styled Queen of Everything! We already know that she is a handfull
of mischief and energy and does not appreciate taking 'direction'. Gee,
she'll fit in perfectly with all the other diva personalities here at
Calypso!
The picture below is the one that finally sold Kevin on the idea of
permitting her to join us here. He took one look and just cracked up
with laughter. Well, who COULD resist this little
criminal-in-the making ??? Certainly not us !!! Please join us in
welcoming Avuvi Afonhaan to Calypso basenjis! (**and that is Honey's litter brother, Enagnon, at the bottom of this picture, a partner in crime if ever there was one!**)
6 Sept. 2004: BCOA Nat'l Spec. show African Match: Honey places 1st
over Hontongnon in their puppy bitch class, the first time in a show
ring for both of them. Honey is a natural show girl - she really
enjoyed herself and all the attention!
19 September 2004:
New Champion !!! Honey finished her UKC championship in 24 hrs/3
shows. She won her required 3 majors + 100 pts just 20 minutes from the
Dean's house in Warrenton, VA. Big thank you to Robert for
deciding to enter Honey and Kuoabo on the shows so they could get some
experience - who knew THIS would happen? Thanks to Laura Gilchrist for doing the
handling honors! ***Honey is the first native
born/bred basenji to finish a conformation championship in the Western
hemisphere. Two basenjis won South African titles beating her to the
punch as first in the world. We'll keep her in spite of that, I'm
pretty sure! Next: obedience training !!! ***
Spring 2006: All health testing and DNA profiling that
CURRENTLY can be done HAS been done on Honey. The results are posted
publicly at the top of this page. The only test currently in
development is the fanconi gene marker test. Honey's blood sample is
already in the Univ. Of Missouri's Genetics Laboratory blood bank and
it will be tested for the presence of the fanconi gene and the results
publicly posted as have ALL tests done on Avuvu Afonhaan.
Breeding Plans 2006:
We are currently accepting inquiries and reservations for the
first Benin import breeding between Avuvi Enagnon and UKC Ch. Avuvi
Afonhaan. Please send inquiries to calypsobasenjis@yahoo.com re:
this breeding and any future breedings. Thank you!
Litter # 1: sire = Avuvi Enagnon (UKC-registered)
OFA:
BJ 1762E25M-PI (hips); (elbows)= BJ EL149M25_PI = Normal;
Thyroid profile by Dr.Dodds: Normal ; CERF BJ 1181/2005-18; coat/nose
genotype analysis by Dr. Melekhovets @ HealthGene (Toronto,CAN): Ee BB
Dd ayay
Litter #1 has arrived: 3 girls/1 boy born Nov.16, 2006 !!!
To support the Avuvi Project "Return To Benin" fundraising
efforts, please visit our product site on www.zazzle.com for a unique
and sometimes astonishing selection of images available for transfer to
T-shirts, stamps, posters, note cards, mugs, and more. There are
photographs of the native dogs of West Africa, our original Benin
imports, and the African Fantasy creations of one of our members that
have to be seen to be believed!
Project
members hope to return to Benin in 2008 in order to bring back another
selection of puppies, but to also DNA sample entire villages worth of
dogs, and amass digital still and video of the dogs, their people, and
their environment. In addition, it is hoped that some of the
participants will acccompany villagers on an actual hunt and record
digital video of the event.
See the link to our Zazzle site on the Calypso home page!
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