June 24, 1991

Dog Fancy
Puppourri Editors

Dear Editors,

The June issue of Dog Fancy with the article about the Basenji dog stirred up some very unusual memories of my introduction to this very unusual breed.

William Wellman, a well-known director in Hollywood, was going to direct a feature film based on the novel by Janes Street on the Basenji dog.  This would be shot in the swamps of Georgia.  The cast featured a boy, Brandon DeWilde, Walter Brennan, Sidney Poitier, Louise Beavers, Phil Harris andof course, the Basenji.

The cast, Director, staff, crew and dog trainers and six dogs were in a chartered plane enroute to Albany, Georgia.  THere were three cages of Basenjis which were stacked in the space between the pilot's cabin and the galley.  Two hound dogs were with us in the passenger section and Frosty, a female toy poodle.

We had been airborne for about one-half hour when the stewardess came down the aisle with a cart of refreshments.  THe big grin on her face prompted Wellman to ask about it.  She said that the Basenjis hadn't stopped howling and pilot was about to turn back or jump out of the plane.

Wellman and I were working on the script and I moved closer to the aisle to hear better when he dictated notes for me to write down.  As I did so I noticed a stream of vomit trickling down toward my seat.  The two hound dogs were very air sick!