All the dogs we have had (names all began with a "B") were dumped or rescued. I tell everyone they all had all kinds of pedigree.

DH and I both just jumped out of our chairs when the Borzoi won the Hound Group and then went on to Reserve BIS. First time that's happened and of course we're partial to the breed having had them for many years. Actually one of my dogs participated at Westminster and, even though he didn't win, it was an honor that he was there. The dogs have to have made their championship to even compete at Westminster.

I thought that, until I got involved with the basenji.

These dogs came out of Africa in the 40's, and even then, the people in Africa spoke of dogs that had the 'drinking water disease.'
It was also in the dogs that were brought here, called 'fanconi' and the club raised money in many ways, hopefully to figure out where it was coming from. One of the first things that becomes apparent is the the dog drinks copious amounts of water.
A human anesthesiologist, who had basenjis, one with fanconi, developed a protocol that enabled dogs on his protocol to live to old age. Medically, the way this disease is related to what an anesthesiologist knows, made it possible. He was made an honorary member of our club. How fortunate a fanconi basenji ended up in his home.
This disease didn't make itself apparent in a dog until it was 7 or so, so many times these dogs were bred. It became clear it was a hereditary disease, and that testing a dog's urine for sugar once a month allowed the owner to start the protocol at the earliest stages of the disease. But they were still having to deal with the protocol, which was among other things, 15-30 bicarbonate (baking soda) tablets a day. ever put just baking soda in your mouth? And the whole thing, protocol and disease progression, was not pretty.

The scientist kept telling us they weren't ready for our money yet, but when they were, the DNA test, and how the disease is passed on, was developed, and taught us who to breed together to avoid pups with fanconi.

The truly remarkable thing -
Some scientists contacted our breed club because they knew we had pedigrees marked with affected dogs(had been keeping track of this since the 70's - 20% of all basenjis were getting it, when in most breeds it's less than 1%)
At the time there were 500 children WORLDWIDE that had fanconi and they were hopeful that our detailed records might be able to assist with these CHILDREN!!!!

I am no longer breeding or showing because of my brain injury, but I see myself belonging to that club a very long time, if only to fund the next disease they tackle.
So sure, purebred dogs may have diseases, but if a group works on a disease, it may benefit children, in a way that only human testing will not. Our situation allowed us to work together and let breeders work towards eradicating a disease. I will forever be proud of being a minor part of all this.

I always admire the borzoi photo, and remember seeing them on the lure course. Loved their temperament, not an in your face type of dog, but the ones I knew seemed very sweet

RugosaB: I hope I didn't come off as condemning purebreds. I know responsible breeders work very hard to keep any negative factors from entering the breeding population. In my book, any dog is a great dog. Breaks my heart that there is so much mistreatment that goes on.

Oh no, you didn't come across that way at all! I'm just so proud of this group of people
and know a lot of breeds are not nearly as lucky. There are folks who are anti breeder and I feel compelled to tell a story of the good guys.

RugosaB: I totally understand springing to the defense of a maligned group whether the group is four legged or two legged. I am owned by a dog that is one of the breeds that has a lot of negative press. It's hard for me not to try to "educate" out the misinformation on any and all occasions.