Mboni RR started when we were getting some ridgeless puppies from breeders who preferred not to sell them as pets. We chose the Swahili word “Mboni” to represent these pups because one of the meanings is “something precious”. In our opinion, there is nothing quite as precious as a Ridgeback puppy, with or without the “breed mark” ridge. Oddly enough, we had already used “precious” in the name of our first registered Ridgeback, so after that all have carried the word “Mboni” in their official registered name and it has become our kennel name. We got our first Ridgebacks when we lived in Alaska and I heard a guy on the radio needing help with a litter of 13 puppies who had lost their mother when they were 9 days old. I called the man and agreed to take 2 male puppies after work that evening. I then phoned my husband and asked if, “we could bottle raise a puppy”. He said it would be a lot of work, but that we could do it and asked for details, including what kind of puppy. Since I hadn’t thought to ask that question, I told him I’d have to find out and call him back.  I called the breeder again and asked what kind of puppies they were. I’d heard of “Rhodesian Ridgebacks” and after he described the breed, thought I’d seen one in a pick-up truck once. I re-assured him that we would pick up the 2 males as quickly as we could get from work to his home. When I phoned my husband back with the breed information, he knew less than I did about them, but agreed that we could bottle raise a puppy. It was at this time I chose to tell him I had agreed to adopt TWO of the needy puppies, “so they could keep each other company”, I quickly added. Fortunately for all concerned, he thought that part was a good idea.  At the time we got these “little” guys, I had no intentions of keeping them forever. I planned to raise them, teach them some basic manners and then find them good homes. Short version of that plan is that Wiket, who was very much MY dog, died 2 days after abdominal surgery, on June 26, 1999 and Mik was put down at home by our vet in April 1999 because he was losing his dignity due to being very arthritic.  Our lack of breed knowledge caused us to make errors in raising the boys, mainly in not properly socializing them, but they lived long lives as members of our family, always house pets, and changed our lives forever.  When I realized that Wiket was sick, I decided to get a puppy so he could teach her his little quirks. We had retired to Michigan in 1996, and I found a breeder there with puppies and learned more about the breed at the same time, as we never knew about the “ridgeless”. . I couldn’t understand there being any difference between them other than cosmetics and the price for her better fit our budget at the time. Unfortunately, Wiket died just 3 days after I’d picked this little girl, so he never got to meet her or love her as we did.  The same month we bought this little ridgeless girl, Ma-n-Wiket’s Preshus Ms Crket, a.k.a. Crket, we were called by a lady who heard about us from Crket’s breeder. She wanted to know if we’d be interested in a 1 year old spayed girl she had bred and sold as a puppy that was being returned because the family was moving to Spain. That is how we got our petite princess, Nally Sue, who is still with us today. Then we got a call from the MI Rescue co-ordinator asking if we’d be interested in adopting a bitch she had just acquired from a local shelter. And Sheba was added to our family a few days later. Talk about a “growing “ family, we went from 2 dogs to 5 within just a few weeks. In the fall of ‘98, Sheba was diagnosed with cancer and in an attempt to save her life and upon the advice of 3 different Vet’s, we had a front leg amputated. Sheba was a fighter and made an amazing recovery. But a few months later, she had more cancer cells in her body and she crossed Rainbow Bridge Jan ‘99.  Unfortunately, for us, Crket became ill in the fall of 1999 and upon discovering she had an inoperable spinal tumor, we kissed her good-bye and sent her to cross Rainbow Bridge on Dec 27, 1999. Losing any pet is a horribly sad event, but it seemed much harder for us to deal with when Crket was just 2 ½ years old. She was one of the naughtiest puppies we’d ever met - a surfer to make all Ridgebacks proud. During her “puppyhood” we retrieved such things from the dog yard as eye glasses, shoes, socks and even my wrist watch - a disadvantage of having a doggy door. But as Crket matured, she became one of the most wonderful members our family will ever have and with us doing a fair amount of ramming the roads, she came to be known by many other people, even non-dog lovers took a fancy to Crket. Although she lacked the trademark ridge, she was a wonderful ambassador of her breed.  Before we had any idea how seriously ill Crket was, I had gotten on the list for a ridgeless puppy from a well known Ridgeback breeder in Chicago, Barbara Sawyer-Brown. I had seen photos of Kwetu dogs in books and magazines and truly loved every one of them. Since we had become volunteers with one of the Ridgeback groups , Barbara and I had exchanged numerous e-mails, but had never met personally. Once I got on the list for one of her puppies, that changed and Jan 24, 2000 we drove to Chicago to meet her, Art and the wonderful Ridgebacks of Kwetu. I held that little ridgeless puppy for the better part of our four hour visit and we both delighted in meeting Barbara, Art and ALL the RR’s of Kwetu. It was truly a thrilling day, sitting in the dining room of a RR breeding legend, playing fetch with Rusty, petting and hugging Boomer, the sire of my new puppy and the amazing temperament of Hubba, dam of the litter. Hubba didn’t know us at all and yet, she allowed us in the puppy room playing with her liter as if she were our very own dog.. They certainly did live up to the photos I’d admired foryears and the day was like a dream come true. About a year after I got my Barbi Doll, Barbara wondered why I had asked for a Kwetu ridgeless puppy and not a show dog. The answer was quite simple, I had no desire to show or breed, I just wanted one of those GORGEOUS Kwetu puppies. I’m sure that the reason she kept bringing up the subject was because she felt that Barbi had a wonderful life as a member of our family and felt that we would be equally as acceptable as a show dog home. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea, BUT with the understanding that I was NOT going into any ring with any dog! So I was once again on the list for a Kwetu puppy that would come from a repeat Hubba (Kwetu’s Mahubah ROM) Boomer (CH Kwetu’s Boomerang ROM) breeding. I asked to be removed from the list when the second breeding came along because I wanted somebody who had lost their Kwetu girl to have another one. So there was a third Hubba/Boomer breeding that produced a perfect litter of six puppies on September 6, 2002. There were two show girls and four show boys and I was off to Chicago to pick my girl. WHAT a decision, but at least there were only two girls and that was what I wanted. I made my pick, with absolutely NO influence from either Barbara or Art, just as Misty’s eyes opened. We laughed when she pooped on me while I was holding her and said we guessed it was a mutual decision. I flew back to Chicago the end of October 2002 and on November 1, Misty and I flew home while she was still small enough to fly with me, rather than in cargo. Butch picked us up at the Reno airport and his first words upon seeing Misty were, “Oh my God, she’s GORGEOUS,” I just smiled and said, “Yeah, I know, that’s why I picked her.” I decided that I could show Misty in International shows as they are very laid back, without pro handlers and much more informal than the AKC shows. So we began our show career the day she turned three months and a day old in Anaheim, CA. I’ll never forget our critique from the judge. His first line read, “puppy and handler need ring experience.” But the review of Misty as an RR puppy was very impressive and it confirmed my opinion that I had indeed picked myself a winner, in my first ever pick of a litter. We went to several more International shows and ultimately Misty became an International Champion, but it took longer for me to feel comfortable showing her in AKC with ALL those pro handlers and so many other owner/handlers with experience. One of my best friends showed her in her first several shows for me and they did well together. Then we went to a 4-day show and I found myself with nobody to show her and it was almost time for her class to enter the ring. Butch asked me what I was going to do and my reply was, “put that number on me, WE’RE going in the ring.” And from that day to this, I have been the one who has done the vast majority of showing my own dogs. I’m still amazed by the things Misty and I have accomplished - together. She has certainly taught me far more than I have taught her. There is a bond between us that I’ve never had before and I know it’s that once in a lifetime thing that I will never have again. She has built within me a sense of real accomplishment, accomplishment at a level I never even dreamed about and I will be eternally grateful to Barbara Sawyer Brown, Kwetu Reg for allowing me to pick Misty from that litter of puppies and for entrusting such a gorgeous and special lady to my care.