Dora Jean, aka Virginia Tech Cheerleader, is a brindle Basenji that my husband and I adopted almost a year ago. She lives with us in Midlothian, Virginia, and resides on the Outer Banks of NC several times a year. Dora Jean was found by an animal rescue group outside Richmond, Virginia, in September of 2007. She was thin but friendly. Being a Basenji, the bark less dog, she was very unhappy in the kennel of the group that found her.
The veterinarian who checked her out identified her as a Basenji, so the rescue group contacted BRAT (Basenji Rescue and Transport) for help.
A foster home was found for Dora Jean and her new "family" nursed her back to health.
I saw her picture in the local paper and fell in love with that face. The rest is history and Dora Jean came to live with us on November 4, 2007. We still visit her foster family and met another Basenji who was in foster care.
Zoe, another brindle, came to live with us three months ago. The "Girls" are great friends!
Once Dora Jean settled in with us, I took her to training classes. She earned her Canine Good Citizen certificate, passed the Therapy Dog, Inc. test and joined Caring Canines, a local volunteer therapy dog group.
She visits hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. All during October of each year, the therapy dogs dress in costume for Halloween.
The residents love it and so do we!
M. Gregory
Please visit BRAT (Basenji Rescue and Transport) at A special thank you goes out to, Michele at Karichele Realty who invited the Gregory Family to share Dora Jean’s story with the Pampered Pets Guide.
Blog photograph by Seaside Photography
Please see the Pampered Pets Club page