Imports
African Imports
The AKC, at the request of the Basenji Club of America (BCOA), opened the Basenji stud book to dogs from countries with no AKC accepted registry. The BCOA initiated this program in order to offer an opportunity to import dogs from their native land. This will allow new genes to be introduced and to reduce the Coefficient of Inbreeding in the breed. This page will give you an overview on steps to import and register your import but you should check for more complete or recent information and make use of a vet knowledgeable on importing dogs and a customs broker.
Importation of Dogs from Africa
Age of Imports and Chipping
When looking for puppies to export out of Africa they will need to be 3 months (12 weeks) or older. At this age they can be given a Rabies shot. They should be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit microchip for identification before getting their rabies shot.
Length of Stay in Africa after Rabies Shot
The length of time dogs will be in quarantine in Africa after their rabies shot will be determined by the country they will be imported into.
Starting June 10, 2022 the CDC will allow Dogs into the U.S. from countries with high risk of Dog Rabies if they follow these rules. This includes the D.R. Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. Imports going to the U.S. need to stay for 28 days (4 weeks) after rabies shot before importation and be at least 6 months old, have valid foreign rabies vaccination permit, and ISO-compatible microchip. On arrival they need to stay another 28 days in approved kennel after receiving USDA-licensed rabies vaccine. See U.S. Import rules.
For EU countries and Britain imports will need to be tested 30 days after rabies shot with a rabies titer test. Microchip must be scanned and number given. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your import can enter the EU or Britain no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn. Total time in Uganda 4 months. See EU Import Rules. See British Import Rules.
Importation to Australia must be made from an approved country. Uganda, South Sudan and the Congo are not approved countries. The U.S. and the EU countries are group 3 approved countries and dogs from Africa will need to be imported to those countries first. Importation to Australia can occur 180 days (6 months) after an acceptable RNAT rabies titer test is performed in a group 3 approved country. When imported to Australia the dog will have to stay at Mickleham post entry quarantine facility (Melbourne) for further 10 days. See Australian Import Rules.
Importation to New Zealand must be made from an approved country. Uganda, South Sudan and the Congo are not approved countries. The U.S. and the EU countries are group 3 approved countries and dogs from Africa will need to be imported to those countries first. Importation to New Zealand can occur after dog resides 6 months in the approved country and is over 9 months old. Imported dogs can only come into Christchurch or Auckland and will be quarantined for 10 days. See New Zealand Import Rules.
For Australian and New Zealand importations it may end up more than a year for the dogs to get into those countries if you include the stay in Uganda, the stay in the EU or U.S. to qualify for importation and the time for the Stud Book registration process.
Pet Travel Vets and Kenneling in Uganda
Kampala in Uganda is the most convenient location to quarantine dogs found in the Congo or South Sudan. There are two vets in Kampala which provide kenneling, vet and pet travel services.
Vetluv Pet Travel – Dr. Alex Mugisa Great.
The Kampala Veterinary Surgery – Dr. Berna Nakanwagi.
Flights from Entebbe Airport out of Uganda
There are direct flights to Amsterdam and Brussels out of Entebbe. Amsterdam Schiphol airport has a very good Pet Hotel for layovers.
Number of Dogs allowed in a crate
No more than two live puppies, 8 weeks to 6 months of age, that are of comparable size and weighing 20 lb. (9 kg) or less each, may be transported in the same primary enclosure via air carrier. See IATA.
Health Requirements other than Rabies when imported to final country
Dogs traveling to the U.S. from countries or regions where screwworm is known to exist (Uganda, Congo, South Sudan), may enter the U.S. if they meet the following requirements: The dog must be accompanied by a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the region of origin stating:
The dog has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days prior to shipment to the United States; and
The dog is either free from screwworm OR was found to be infested with screwworm, was held in quarantine, and was treated until free from screwworm prior to leaving the region.
For entry to United States dogs coming from a country with foot-and-mouth disease (Uganda, South Sudan, Congo) need to have their fur and bedding free of excessive dirt or natural bedding such as hay or straw. The pet should be bathed as soon as it reaches its destination and should be kept separate from all livestock for 5 days after entry into the United States.
For entry in the EU preventive health measures for the control of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in dogs lists Finland, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom as the Member States authorized to apply those measures. (Norway also applies).
the treatment must be administered by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled entry
the treatment must be certified by the administering veterinarian in the relevant section of the passport
For entry into Britain Dogs need to have a tapeworm treatment.
For entry to Ukraine should have vaccination against DHLPP. Pass a health check no more than 5 days prior to their arrival. Vet treat for tapeworm 24 to 120 hours before departure and record on health certificate. They will need to travel with an endorsed Ukrainian health certificate.
For entry into Australia the following health tests and treatments need to be done.
Dogs exported from U.S. must be vaccinated for canine influenza virus.
Start at least 21 days before testing for Erlichia canis the external parasite treatments for ticks and fleas by government approved vet.
45 days prior to export test for Ehrlichia canis, Brucella canis, Leishmainia infantum, Leptospira canicola (you can do the two inoculations instead of testing with second inoculation least 14 days before export). All tests must have negative results.
Within 45 days prior to export start two treatments 14 days apart for internal parasites for nemotodes and cestodes by government approved vet. Last treatment must be 5 days before export.
28 days before date of export for dogs who have been in mainland Africa apply Babesia canis treatment.
For entry into New Zealand the following health tests and treatments need to be done.
Within 30 days prior to export two external parasite treatments for control of fleas and ticks will be given by a vet two weeks apart with last treatment 2 days prior to shipment.
Within 30 days prior to export two internal parasite treatments for control of nemotodes and cestodes will be given by a vet two weeks apart with last treatment 4 days prior to shipment.
For dogs who have resided in Africa given an approved treatment for Babesia canis within 16 days prior to date of shipment and negative results from PCR test for Babesia.
Within 16 days prior to export tested for Babesia gibsoni.
Within 16 days prior to export tested for Brucella canis.
Examined for canine transmissible venereal tumor.
Within 4 days prior to shipment treated for Heart worm.
Within 21 days prior to shipment has not been in contact with dogs showing signs of influenza.
Customs Broker
You should contact a customs broker in your area to facilitate your dog’s arrival in the U.S. I used Coppersmith for Kiri's arrival at Sea-tac.
Kenneling in the U.S.
Dibu Basenjis can provide kenneling for African imports. There is direct flights from Amsterdam to Seattle. You can send a contact here.
Registration in the AKC Stud Book
Currently the AKC Basenji Stud Book is open until December 31, 2030 for adding African Imports. Dogs imported prior to December 31, 2028 are eligible for registration. The Registration process is through the Basenji Club of America Native Stock Committee.
Applicants must be:
Imported after 1990 directly from Africa or in utero from Africa.
Be a year old.
Tested for HA and Fanconi.
Microchipped or have a tattoo.
Procedures
The African Stock application to be considered for entry in the Stud Book must be submitted by March 1st with minimum of three photos and a $50 fee. I also suggest including import papers, picture of the dog in Africa, proof of health tests, and a breed ancestry test from Embark. See submission instructions.
Applicants must go through three steps.
Applicants will be evaluated in person by three people, an AKC Basenji Judge, AKC Basenji Breeder/Judge, and a Longtime Basenji Breeder. You will need select one person from each of the three categories. Most of the evaluators are in the United States. There are some in Finland, Sweden, and England. Deadline for evaluations to be returned is March 31st. If the applicant does not pass the evaluation, then they can reapply one more time at any time before the Stud Book is closed.
The Basenji Club of America Board will vote on the applicants individually who passed the evaluation. If the applicant does not get a positive majority vote from the Board, then they can reapply one more time at any time before the Stud Book is closed.
After passing the previous two steps the applicants will be voted by ballot as a group by the BCOA Membership if more than one dog is put forward from the same area of Africa. Each import group must have an approval of over two-thirds of the voting membership. If the group of applicants fail to be approved, then they cannot reapply.
Registration
If an applicant passes all three steps, then their application to be included in the Stud Book will be forwarded by the Native Stock Committee to the AKC to be registered as Foundation Stock.
Imports impact on COI
The graph below shows the genetic coefficient of inbreeding (COI) for dogs that have been tested by Embark. For all breeds there is a normal bell curve, but for the Basenji it is an inverted bell curve. The new imports from Africa have pushed up the number of dogs having low COI. The Basenjis peak COI is just under 40% while for all Breeds it peaks just under 20%.
