Page 150 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

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The Basenji, which originated from a variety of the Africanis and was selected by the
English, shows its special status in the genetic study on the descent of the breeds by
Heidi Parker and her colleagues from 2017 (see Sloughi Review No. 9). The relationship of
Azawakh and Sloughi to the Basenji demonstrates that this relationship is also similar in
the life characteristics of hunting and herd protection, as well as great social closeness to
humans of these original dogs.

The use of the term “domestication” in the literature is not very clear. Some use the term
simply from the situation in which an animal moves in a relatively stable way within the
circle of humans. However, the moment of this situation, in which an animal becomes
closer to the circle of life of humans, compared to animals that remain distant from them,
has not yet been clearly grasped and therefore remains speculative. These fantasies,

however, are also acted out in science, as we observe with Angela Perri. Results based
purely on assumptions, however, lead to false conclusions. These assumptions must be
better substantiated and should increasingly lead less of a life of their own.

In this context, the contemptuous attitude of humans towards the animal is to be
criticised. In terms like “domestication” or “farm animal”, the animal entrusted to us
becomes a “resource”, categorised as one would treat a machine or other things: with

statistics, selection, efficiency. Social and emotional categories find no place here.
Respect for our fellow creatures has been completely lost. Our symbiotic relationship
with nature is completely perverted and without foundation.

Commercial dog racing with Sloughis in Algiers in 1950ies
© Xavier Przezdziecki